Formula 1 will see six rookies take to the grid for the first time since the 2010 season, although at least half have already made their race debut last season.
Oliver Bearman impressed with his debut race for Ferrari at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, while he later had other appearances with current team Haas in place of Kevin Magnussen.
Liam Lawson has also now completed 11 Grands Prix and will be replacing Sergio Perez, after the Mexican endured one of his worst seasons to date in F1 last year.
There is a lot of anticipation over Andrea Kimi Antonelli at Mercedes, while Gabriel Bortoleto will have a lot to prove at Sauber going up against the experienced Nico Hulkenberg.
Jack Doohan has already made his debut for Alpine, although Jolyon Palmer described his Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as ‘difficult’ after he finished outside of the points. The Australian is under pressure and former Red Bull F1 driver Robert Doornbos thinks it could be too much for him to handle when speaking to Motorsport.nl.
Robert Doornbos thinks pressure on Jack Doohan ‘too much’
In the first weeks of 2025, Alpine announced that it had signed Franco Colapinto to its reserve driver roster, after a strong six races from the Argentine at Williams.
Even though it seemed like Alpine had its lineup set with Doohan and Esteban Ocon, it later emerged that the Australian only has a short-term contract with the team.
The signing of Colapinto means there is a very real prospect of Doohan being replaced after just six races, which Doornbos thinks will put too much pressure on the rookie to perform.
“Doohan doesn’t enter F1 in a relaxed way, he only has a contract for six races. The pressure is full on now and the favourite is already hanging on to your neck, which is Franco Colapinto who will be the reserve driver for Alpine,” said Doornbos.
“So I think it will be too much. Plus the opening race is also his home one, so I don’t think he will finish the season.”
Franco Colapinto ‘always ready’ to jump into Alpine F1 car
Colapinto has been visiting Alpine’s factory this month at Enstone, where it appeared as though he was getting a seat fit based on social media videos for the team.
With him being a reserve driver in case either Pierre Gasly or Doohan falls ill, it makes sense that he would be doing this essential task.
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But Colapinto has not been hiding the fact that he could be in for a race seat if Doohan doesn’t perform, with him telling Italian media that he is ‘always ready’ to jump into the Alpine.
Doohan will need to perform if he wants to stand any chance of retaining his seat in the future, although based on his performance in Abu Dhabi that could be a tough ask for the Australian.
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