Formula 1’s rookies have had two races to impress their new employers and some are already doing better than others.
Two scored points at the Chinese Grand Prix, with Kimi Antonelli strangely being voted as driver of the day by Formula 1 fans, despite going from eighth on the grid to eighth in the race.
Isack Hadjar finished 11th after the disqualifications of both Ferrari drivers but deserved points following Visa Cash App Racing Bulls’ strategy nightmare.
The Frenchman qualified seventh in Shanghai following a disastrous debut in Melbourne where he didn’t even get to see the start. It was the perfect response.
After qualifying, Ted Kravitz saw Anthony Hamilton speaking to Hadjar one week on from consoling a tearful version of the 20-year-old in Australia.
Ralf Schumacher believed Carlos Sainz should’ve been crying instead, but the Spaniard avenged his opening race retirement with points in China this weekend.
READ MORE: Ted Kravitz noticed something very worrying about Isack Hadjar on the grid before his Australian Grand Prix crash
Jolyon Palmer picks Isack Hadjar as ‘most impressive’ F1 rookie in 2025
Oliver Bearman ended up driving from 17th to 8th during the Chinese Grand Prix, with teammate Esteban Ocon just up the road in 5th.
For a team who started the year in quite slow fashion, it was a massively pleasing result and impressive performance from Haas and their seemingly unflustered rookie.
But Jolyon Palmer offered his praise to Hadjar instead after the race in China. He told F1’s Post-Race Show that he had been the most impressive rookie this season.
“Hadjar has been really impressive though. I do think he’s the most impressive of the five of them. He’s been top rookie on the grid twice, he’s obviously got a very good car.
“Even Antonelli getting some more points, driver of the day. He’s a long way off George still. These are difficult first races.”
Kimi Antonelli is the highest placed of the five new recruits, sitting fifth in the drivers’ championship. The next closest rookie is Bearman in 12th.
READ MORE: David Coulthard shares what he’s heard about Isack Hadjar behind the scenes after tearful Australian Grand Prix exit
Has Isack Hadjar been better against Yuki Tsunoda than Liam Lawson against Max Verstappen?
Taking a look at the gap between both drivers, 65 seconds separated Red Bull’s Max Verstappen from new hire Liam Lawson in China.
Hadjar was 42 seconds ahead of Yuki Tsunoda after a late front wing change curtailed his race. Until then, they had been quite close.
During qualifying, Hadjar bettered the Japanese driver again after he made a mistake, and held a somewhat unrepresentative six-tenth advantage, while Lawson was seven-tenths behind Verstappen in Q1 (which he was eliminated from).
China suggests that Hadjar has not only been better than Lawson since arriving in the sport but that he may have more potential than Tsunoda too.
With Red Bull already considering a driver swap, they would be foolish not to consider a promotion for their new rookie in 2026 if they cannot find a long-term solution for their second driver woes.
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