Fresh Air for the Formula 1 Grid

The 2025 Formula 1 season will be historic due to the high number of rookies joining the grid, with up to six new official drivers—one of the biggest shifts in the category since the beginning of the century. And that’s not all. After a 2024 season with no changes at all, 2025 marks a true revolution, with as many as ten driver changes—50% of the grid.

This renewal will bring youth and ambition, leaving behind veteran figures such as Sergio Pérez, Valtteri Bottas, Kevin Magnussen, and Guanyu Zhou, who will no longer continue in the top tier of motorsport.

Among the new faces are Oliver Bearman, Jack Doohan, Gabriel Bortoleto, Kimi Antonelli, Isack Hadjar, and Liam Lawson, who will usher in a new generation in F1.

McLaren

The reigning world champion team is one of the few to retain its driver line-up in 2025. Lando Norris enters his seventh season, not only in F1 but also with the British team, alongside Australian teammate Oscar Piastri.

Ferrari

A great deal of attention will be focused on Ferrari and their high-profile new signing, Lewis Hamilton. The Briton, the most decorated driver in the sport alongside Michael Schumacher, with seven world championships, makes the switch to the Italian team after twelve seasons with Mercedes. His clear goal is to return to become world Champion again dressed in red. Alongside him is Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc, who embarks on his seventh year at the wheel of a Ferrari.

Red Bull

Once again, Max Verstappen will be the man to beat after securing his fourth consecutive world title in 2024. However, he faces a challenge following the departure of aerodynamics genius and mastermind behind his championship-winning cars, Adrian Newey, who has moved to Aston Martin.

Alongside him, Sergio Pérez will no longer be present, as the Mexican was dropped from the team due to poor performance in 2024. Instead, young American Liam Lawson has earned the seat after competing in eleven Grands Prix between 2023 and 2024, establishing himself as one of Red Bull’s top prospects.

Mercedes

At just 18 years old, Andrea Kimi Antonelli is one of the biggest rising stars in motorsport and the latest product of Toto Wolff’s driver development. The Italian has made his mark since his karting days, competing successfully at every level. However, it was the unexpected departure of Lewis Hamilton that fast-tracked his debut with Mercedes earlier than anticipated.

Alongside him, George Russell enters his fourth season with the Silver Arrows, as the team seeks to rejuvenate its line-up following Hamilton’s exit.

Aston Martin

Alongside McLaren, Aston Martin is the only other team to maintain an unchanged driver line-up, with Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll continuing to lead the green squad.

The major novelty is the signing of renowned engineer Adrian Newey, who will begin working with Aston Martin in March and spearhead the design of their 2026 challenger.

Alpine

The French team also undergoes a driver change, introducing a rookie. Jack Doohan, a long-time member of the Alpine Academy, steps in to replace Esteban Ocon, who leaves behind a significant legacy with the team.

The Australian, son of motorcycle racing legend Mick Doohan, aims to make his mark in F1 after finishing as runner-up in Formula 3 (2021) and third in Formula 2 (2024). In the adjacent garage, veteran French driver Pierre Gasly will continue for his third season with Alpine.

Haas

Alpine’s castoff, Esteban Ocon, lands at Haas F1 Team, which has undergone a complete revamp. Following the departures of Nico Hülkenberg and Kevin Magnussen, the American squad has opted for the experience of Ocon and the youthful promise of Oliver Bearman.

The 19-year-old Briton has established himself as one of the brightest prospects in global motorsport since joining the Ferrari Driver Academy. In 2024, he contested three Grands Prix, including Azerbaijan, where he stepped in for Carlos Sainz—who was sidelined due to an emergency appendectomy—and impressively finished seventh.

Racing Bull

Yuki Tsunoda remains with the Faenza-based team for a fifth consecutive year, but alongside him will be a completely new face: Isack Hadjar, the 2024 Formula 2 runner-up.

The Frenchman, a member of the Red Bull Junior Team, is one of the biggest surprises of the season, as he was not initially expected to secure a seat on the F1 grid. However, his outstanding performance in Formula 2, where he fought for the title until the final race, convinced Red Bull’s management that he was the right choice to replace Liam Lawson, who has been promoted to the senior team.

Williams

Alex Albon remains with Williams for a fourth consecutive season, but he will have a new teammate: Carlos Sainz.

The experienced Spanish driver joins the Grove-based outfit after being forced to find a new seat following Hamilton’s move to Ferrari. It will be a challenging year for Sainz, but also an opportunity to showcase his talent.

Kick Sauber

Sauber is another team that has undergone a complete transformation as it prepares to become Audi in 2026.

Veteran German driver Nico Hülkenberg departs Haas to join the Hinwil-based squad, where he will partner with young rookie Gabriel Bortoleto.

The Brazilian has shone in the junior categories, winning both the Formula 3 and Formula 2 titles in his debut seasons. He also becomes the first driver managed by Fernando Alonso’s agency to reach Formula 1. His arrival marks the return of a Brazilian to the grid for the first time since Felipe Massa’s retirement in 2017.

A Historic Season Ahead

With the arrival of these six rookies, the 2025 F1 season matches the tally from 2001, which saw the debuts of Fernando Alonso, Kimi Räikkönen, Juan Pablo Montoya, Enrique Bernoldi, and Alex Yoong.

Interestingly, seven of the drivers on the current grid were not even born in 2001 when Alonso made his debut with Minardi. The Spaniard remains the most experienced driver, as he will turn 44 during the season. Following him is Lewis Hamilton, now the second-most seasoned driver at 40 years old, while at the other end of the spectrum, Andrea Kimi Antonelli is the youngest at just 18.

With so many new faces and changes, the 2025 season promises to be one of the most exciting in recent Formula 1 history.