How the F1 rookies have fared after five rounds of 2025

Andrea Kimi Antonelli – sixth, 38 factors

If 2025 was imagined to be a studying yr for Andrea Kimi Antonelli earlier than firing on full cylinders when Method 1’s new rules come on-line, then the 18-year-old has undoubtedly been ingesting from a firehose of knowledge over the previous 5 grands prix, buying and selling extra messy weekends with races the place he has proven his innate class.

The race on Bahrain’s abrasive circuit, the place Mercedes put him on a three-stopper, was one of many former, however taking fourth on his debut at a mixed-weather Australian Grand Prix confirmed he belonged from day one. Whereas Antonelli was all the time going to face a studying curve mastering tyre administration and extracting peak efficiency from these capricious ground-effect vehicles, he was quietly most likely hoping to keep away from a 6-0 qualifying document in opposition to George Russell. However within the Italian’s defence, Russell has arguably been in the very best type of his profession thus far. Mercedes will probably be proud of the untapped potential it’s seeing, however not stunned.

What Antonelli is saying

“[The triple-header] was a great take a look at bodily, mentally, but in addition actually good studying as a result of it was three fully totally different tracks, so it was good to expertise that and doubtless must nonetheless work just a little bit particularly on open tarmacs the place the degradation is larger, however I believe in Jeddah it was good studying from Bahrain and I used to be proud of how I managed the tyres within the second stint. It is undoubtedly a large studying [opportunity] and now I’ve per week off, so I’ve time to assemble all the knowledge and give it some thought correctly with a view to be stronger.”

Oliver Bearman – thirteenth, 6 factors

Oliver Bearman opened his account as a full-time driver with an uncharacteristically messy weekend in Melbourne, spinning into the gravel in FP3 after which going off once more within the race. However within the phrases of Haas workforce boss Ayao Komatsu “the true Ollie we all know” then stood up and delivered in the identical vein of his three-race cameo in 2024.

The Briton has certified larger on common than skilled team-mate Esteban Ocon, and the pair cast a powerful relationship that noticed Haas end the primary leg of the season in sixth place on 20 factors, half of which due to Ocon’s wonderful fifth place in China. However Bearman has additionally contributed with three consecutive points-scoring weekends amid fierce midfield competitors. Komatsu can have zero complaints over signing the pair thus far.

What Bearman is saying

“I am fairly proud of the way it’s going. Australia was actually troublesome, however we turned it round rapidly and introduced a small improve to the automobile, which allowed us to run it extra within the window we wish to. Now we’re capable of extract loads of efficiency out of it. It’s cool to see how shut every thing is within the midfield and it’s loopy how you should be on it with each lap. Coming from F2 to F1, I used to be actually excited and looking out ahead to having time to construct up by way of FP1, 2 and three. However you then realise all of these laps rely in the direction of your qualifying lap, so each lap you should be completely on it. But it surely’s very nice to be in such a decent battle. It is advisable be on high of your recreation, and that is what we’re right here for.”

Isack Hadjar – 14th, 5 factors

Aside from maybe Jack Doohan, Isack Hadjar arrived in F1 with the least quantity of hype surrounding him, but when he felt like a back-up possibility earlier than the beginning, he’s wanting like a possible – dare we are saying it – Crimson Bull driver of the long run. Hadjar’s dramatic formation lap exit in Australia made headlines, however undeterred the Frenchman ploughed on, was denied an opportunity of factors by technique choices in China after which obtained his simply rewards with eighth in Japan.

Following the much-discussed driver swap between Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson, Hadjar’s place at Racing Bulls modified in a single day. With the advantage of being with the workforce all through pre-season, the 20-year-old has been its lead driver to date, though Lawson is beginning to get on par. However the New Zealander faces fairly the benchmark in Hadjar, and that’s due to the 2024 F2 runner-up’s speedy adaptation to life as an F1 driver.

What Hadjar is saying

“I simply like it a lot and I am simply dedicated to it and that is why a tricky hit like Melbourne is just not sufficient to convey me down as a result of I like driving and giving my finest. It was not my objective [to prove people wrong] however I hope it is seen right here. The primary two races had been actually simply to study, get the rhythm after which we had a triple-header so I did not have a lot time to analyse, however now we’ve got a little bit of a break and we take advantage of it to grasp our weak spot.”

Jack Doohan – nineteenth, 0 factors

There was extra stress on Doohan’s full-time F1 debut than obligatory as a result of workforce’s late signing of Franco Colapinto as a reserve, with workforce principal Oliver Oakes admitting the workforce performed a job in creating all of the noise across the Australian. Within the face of all that scrutiny, Doohan has dealt with himself admirably.

On-track it has been a combined bag for Doohan, with a spate of crashes and incidents, a few of which may and will have been prevented. However Doohan has additionally proven stable uncooked tempo alongside the far more skilled Pierre Gasly, a vital basis that’s underpinning his seat which explains why talks over a possible alternative have subsided in latest weeks.

For now it seems like Doohan will survive for Miami and past, however the stress to place outcomes on the desk continues to be there, particularly now Gasly has unearthed the 2025 automobile’s potential on tracks that go well with it.

What Doohan is saying

“It has been good that we have proven some good moments over the previous few rounds and that the uncooked tempo is there, and there is loads of sturdy issues to take ahead. Now it is nearly placing all these issues collectively and I am positive we’ll be capable to obtain nice issues. All I can deal with is what me and the workforce are right here to got down to do and that is for me to rise up to hurry as rapidly as doable.”

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing, Jack Doohan, Alpine, Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

Photograph by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Photos

Gabriel Bortoleto, twentieth, 0 factors

Out of your entire rookie class, F3 and F2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto has been dealt by far the roughest hand, driving the slowest automobile on the grid at Sauber. With a finest end of 14th in China, and a second better of 18th, the outcomes have been nothing to jot down residence about. However wanting past these and you will see that feisty Bortoleto has been doing in addition to may be anticipated in a troublesome to drive automobile, with a 4-2 qualifying document in opposition to the highly-rated qualifier Nico Hulkenberg.

Bortoleto has admitted he has discovered going from the entrance of the feeder collection to useless final in F1 arduous to take, however nonetheless Sauber has been impressed together with his angle and work ethic. Jeddah was one other weekend on the again foot when a gas leak stored him out of FP2, however the younger Brazilian is rolling with the punches to develop himself as an all-round F1 driver. He simply would not have the automobile befitting of his skills.

What Bortoleto is saying

“You by no means cease studying in Method 1. I believe I nonetheless have to get a bit extra assured with the automobile but it surely’s not that I am distant. It is simply that everybody sees the ultimate outcome and it is irritating, however I’ve a really skilled team-mate and it isn’t that he is within the high 5, both. We’re very shut to one another. I am in an honest place, however there’s nonetheless loads of margin to get higher.”