Why Formula 1 Teams Are Turning To Rookies Ahead Of 2025

The new regulations that promise to shake up Formula 1 may still be 18 months away, but a wind of change is already blowing through the sport.

Red Bull’s era of domination appears to be over and McLaren could clinch a first constructors’ crown in two decades, but the most evident change will be on the grid next year.

Specifically, in the number of rookies lining up for the 2025 season.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli will replace the Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, while fellow debutant Jack Doohan will take Esteban Ocon’s seat at Alpine and Oliver Bearman will line up for Haas.

Elsewhere, Franco Colapinto looks set to retain his seat at Williams after replacing Logan Sargeant earlier this season and finishing in the points in only his second start.

Liam Dawson, meanwhile, is expected also be on the grid after Red Bull confirmed after the Singapore Grand Prix that he would replace Daniel Ricciardo at its RB team for the remainder of the season.

The number of rookies on the grid is particularly significant, considering that there were zero newcomers lining up in Bahrain for the opening race of the season in March – a first in Formula 1.

Rookies steal the show on the grid

“I think it is a testament to all of the academies,’ Jock Clear, who heads Ferrari’s Driver Academy and coaches Charles Leclerc, told the F1 Nation podcast.

“How on earth is it possible that [Oliver] Bearman can get in a car that he virtually hasn’t driven and qualify P11 and race to P7 in his very first event, having never tested that car?

“I think the simulators now are very good, and that is a natural progression of the technology.”

Fernando Alonso, a veteran of 21 Formula 1 seasons, has been similarly impressed.

“I think they did an incredible job and credit to them,” he said of Bearman and Colapinto.

“The championship is also 24 races and they need to perform at this top level for 10 months and that’s probably another challenge, but so far they’ve been incredibly good and this is good for the sport and the future.”

Strictly speaking, neither Bearman nor Dawson are Formula 1 rookies.

The Briton has spent this season as Ferrari’s reserve driver he stepped in to replace Carlos Sainz at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in March, with the Spaniard recovering from appendicitis.

Last month, Bearman replaced Kevin Magnussen for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after the Haas driver was handed a one-race ban.

Meanwhile, Dawson made his Formula 1 debut for Alpha Tauri, when he deputized for Ricciardo for five races after the Australian broke his hand at the Dutch Grand Prix.

Red Bull is yet to confirm whether the New Zealander will remain at RB next season, amid speculations he could even replace Sergio Perez alongside Max Verstappen should he perform well.

“This goes beyond RB, it encompasses Red Bull Racing,” Red Bull team principal Chistian Horner admitted on the F1 Nation podcast when asked if Lawson’s six-race stint with RB will be an audition.

Why youth is the new trend in Formula 1

Red Bull’s chief advisor Helmut Marko, however, suggested Perez’s position could be up for debate ahead of next year.

The Mexican signed a two-year extension just five months ago, but his form has nosedived since, with the 34-year-old’s last podium finish coming in the sprint race at the Miami Grand Prix in May.

Speaking to Austrian broadcaster ORF, Marko indicated Red Bull’s intention was to keep Verstappen “ideally with someone from our junior program [next to him].”

And Marko noted the rest of the paddock was taking a leaf out of Red Bull’s book.

“Youth is the trend again,” he added.

“What we used to do, is now being done by Mercedes with Antonelli, Haas with Bearman, and I also hope that [Franco] Colapinto will end up somewhere.

“He was thrown in at the deep end [by Williams] and has delivered three great races.”

Next season promises to be the year of the rookie in Formula 1.