INTERVIEW: The rookies who will shake up F1 in 2025

Of the five, Bearman has three Grands Prix under his belt, initially making a sensational debut with Ferrari in Saudi Arabia last year, deputising for Carlos Sainz after the Spanish driver required an appendectomy.

The 19-year-old then stepped in for Magnussen at Haas after the Dane was banned for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, and then unwell for the São Paulo Grand Prix. The Briton had already been informed in July he would be a Haas driver for this season, on a two-year contract.

Like Bearman, Doohan already knew he would be in F1 in 2025 before he stepped in for Esteban Ocon in the final race of last year in Abu Dhabi. As for Antonelli, Bortoleto and Hadjar, it is uncharted territory.

On each of their young shoulders is pressure and expectation like nothing they will have experienced before, but they also bring enthusiasm and a level of confidence that comes with the exuberance of youth.

Take Bearman, for example. Schooled in the Ferrari Academy, and perhaps destined to one day replace Lewis Hamilton at the Scuderia should the seven-time Champion opt not to extend beyond the current two years on his contract with the Maranello marque.

Bearman appreciates he is unlikely to emulate Hamilton's achievements, recognising that, "no one has emulated Lewis, so I don't expect to manage to do that, because no one has managed to do that."

But he can see himself becoming a World Champion. "That's what I live for," he said. "That's what gets me out of bed every morning.”

Hadjar's belief is next level. He can see himself mirroring the achievements of Max Verstappen, who last year became a four-time Champion.

The French-Algerian, who becomes the first driver with an Arabic background to compete in F1, said a resounding "yes" when asked if he could emulate what Verstappen has achieved.

As to why, his response was immediate. "I have confidence," he said. "That's what I want to do. I don't want to be an F1 driver just to be in F1. I'm not interested in just being here. I want to do well."

As for Antonelli, he has big shoes to fill. Hamilton won six of his seven Drivers’ Titles with Mercedes and had become part of the fixtures and fittings to such an extent that it seemed impossible he would leave.

But leave he did, allowing Team Principal Toto Wolff to promote a driver many feel has what it takes to become a future F1 Champion, despite all the conjecture of a swoop for Verstappen last year.

But don't suggest to Antonelli he is a replacement for Hamilton. "I don't find it right to say that," he said. "He has done so much in the sport, but I just feel I'm the next Mercedes driver, and I really want to make my own story.

“Racing for Mercedes is a big responsibility because it's obviously a top team, but at the same time, it's a great opportunity. It's a privilege to be where I am, and I'll just try to make the best out of it."

Bortoleto enters F1 as one of only a few drivers to have previously won F3/GP3 and F2 before making the step up into the top echelon of motorsport. Oscar Piastri, George Russell, and Charles Leclerc are among the others.

In joining Sauber, there is seemingly little pressure on his shoulders this year. The team finished bottom of the Constructors' Championship last season, and given the stability in the regulations and heavy focus on 2026 when wide-sweeping new rules come into force, little is expected of the team over the coming months before it transitions to the Audi works team.

Bortoleto, who also has a guaranteed contract for next year, sees his situation far differently. "It's true there are some rookies in a tough situation because they only have a one-year contract and they need to perform.

"But I'm someone who puts pressure on myself anyway, no matter how many years of a contract I have. My target has always been to adapt and perform as quickly as I can. Yes, I'm in a comfortable situation in that I have a good contract ahead of me, and I have good expectations for the future with Audi, but I still need to perform.

"Because they are putting a lot of effort and trust into myself, the main thing I can do for them is give 100 per cent of myself, being in the factory, working with them a lot and achieving the results they expect. It's not because you have a good contract that you don't have this pressure.

"I put the pressure on myself, and in a good way. I've always done this in the past, and it has always worked out for me."

The one rookie who does need to perform from the word go is Doohan. The Australian is under pressure from the outset following the successful pursuit of Franco Colapinto by executive advisor Flavio Briatore.

Nevertheless, Briatore marked out Colapinto as a must-have driver after he performed superbly in his nine-race role with Williams last season. But by the time Briatore landed his man over the winter, by which time Doohan had long been confirmed as Pierre Gasly's team-mate this season.

The suggestion that emerged over the closed season was that Doohan has five, maybe six, races to prove he is worthy of the seat, otherwise Colapinto would quickly step up. No one at Alpine has so far refuted that suggestion.

"I'm one of 20 Formula 1 drivers in the world, and I know when I was in karting, Formula 3, Formula 2, I would do anything to be in Formula 1 and sacrifice everything," said a defiant Doohan. 

"Whether it's someone inside the team, outside the team, anyone that's performing well, you're always going to have pressure on your shoulders because you're in such a cutthroat sport. Whatever pressure there may be, I look forward to embracing it and enjoying my Formula 1 season."

And there you have it, five rookies, seemingly with five different paths ahead of them in terms of where their F1 careers lead. It all adds to the narrative of what promises to be a fascinating 2025 campaign.

Images courtesy of Getty Images.