Ralf Schumacher warns ‘undervalued’ F1 rookie could send his teammate ‘into retirement’ in 2025

F1 teams have exercised some caution with the 2025 rookie class. All of them are partnering experienced drivers, creating balance in the garage.

Toto Wolff is excited by the youthful Mercedes line-up, but George Russell has started 128 races. While Kimi Antonelli looks rapid, Wolff knows he can rely on Russell to bring home the points if the Italian makes some early mistakes.

Similarly, Pierre Gasly can be the team leader at Alpine next to Jack Doohan. And Flavio Briatore can also promote Franco Colapinto, his reserve driver, once Doohan reaches the end of his five-race contract.

Oliver Bearman, who helpfully has three Grands Prix under his belt already, will hope to compete with Esteban Ocon immediately. He produced impressive performances against Nico Hulkenberg when standing in at Haas last year.

The biggest contrast is at Sauber, where the age gap between the two drivers is a whopping 17 years. Hulkenberg is one of the most experienced drivers on the grid, while F2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto has never driven in an F1 weekend.

Finally, there’s an intriguing dynamic at Racing Bulls. The Red Bull hierarchy don’t particularly fancy Yuki Tsunoda, so that arguably creates pressure for newbie Isack Hadjar to match him, thus demonstrating his own credentials.

Ralf Schumacher says Isack Hadjar’s arrival could spell the end for Yuki Tsunoda

Speaking in a season preview for Sky Germany, Ralf Schumacher made a bold prediction for the Racing Bulls battle. He thinks Tsunoda has ‘no chance’ of beating Hadjar.

The Japanese driver is coming off the back of his best F1 season yet. He finished a career-best 12th in the championship, scoring 30 of his team’s 46 points.

However, Schumacher feels Hadjar has been underestimated, arguing that a series of retirements cost him the F2 title last year. He won four races in the series overall and also picked up three victories in F3.

If the Frenchman prevails, Schumacher suspects it could mark the end of Tsunoda’s career. He’s out of contract at the end of the season.

Schumacher said: “The next combination where one can send the other into retirement – in this case Tsunoda. [Hadjar] is good. He was super fast in Formula 2, Formula 3.

“He was actually somewhat undervalued due to some difficulties otherwise he would have become champion. He’s great at fighting at the start. I think Tsunoda has no chance against him.”

The real reason Red Bull rejected Yuki Tsunoda has now emerged

Hadjar wants to learn from Tsunoda and has tried to play down expectations. But Schumacher hasn’t taken heed.

David Croft fears there’s ‘no space’ for Tsunoda on the 2026 grid now that his backers Honda are splitting with Red Bull. They’re supplying Aston Martin instead, where both drivers recently signed multi-year extensions.

Last season, Tsunoda effectively retired Daniel Ricciardo by outperforming the Australian and exposing his decline. Now Schumacher thinks Hadjar could do the same to him.

In the space of a year, he could go from nominal Red Bull contender to ex-F1 driver. Christian Horner expects Max Verstappen to leave, so he wanted someone who could occupy the ‘hot seat’ long-term – not a capable number two like Tsunoda.