Mercedes Benz Media
The Formula 1 grid welcomes an influx of rookies this season as more of the 10 teams continue to trust in youth.
This season is the final year of the current regulations before a sizeable shift is made for 2026. Formula 1’s ground-effect cars reaching the end of their life should create an even more competitive grid.
Three drivers will make their debut at the Australian Grand Prix, while another three will embark on their first full season.
Liam Lawson has the unenviable task of competing against four-time world champion Max Verstappen at Red Bull. Dr Helmut Marko has already set the Kiwi a target of staying within three-tenths of a second of his teammate, according to Pit Debrief.
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Jack Doohan steps in at Alpine but is already under pressure with the hot-shot Franco Colapinto waiting in the Alpine wings as reserve drvier. Oliver Bearman partners Frenchman Esteban Ocon at Haas.
Other drivers, such as Formula 2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto, are heading into motorsport’s highest level after winning the FIA F3 and F2 titles back-to-back. Despite an impressive CV, the Brazilian has more margin for error while sharpening his skills away from the front at Sauber.
Starting further away from the sharp end will allow Bortoleto to learn under Nico Hulkenberg’s guidance as the Swiss outfit transforms into Audi for next season.
Bearman will have a similar luxury at Haas as the British driver steps up for a full campaign after competing in three events last season.
There is one driver in particular who needs to deliver from the outset and hit the ground running after a superb junior career, in the spotlight of a top team.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli has ascended the junior categories incredibly quickly after skipping Formula 3 and getting promoted to the highest level after just one F2 season.
The Italian driver replaces seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, who has just kicked off life at Ferrari with tests at Fiorano and the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
Antonelli is the youngest driver on the grid at 18 years old. He has just passed his driving test 6 weeks before his F1 debut at the Australian Grand Prix.
He will be under immense pressure to follow in Hamilton’s footsteps after the British driver won six championships at Mercedes.
It is rare to see a young driver thrown straight into a top team. Hamilton challenged for the championship in his rookie year at McLaren, while Max Verstappen switched to Red Bull in just his second year.
Antonelli has been highly rated throughout his short junior career, and Hamilton was taken aback when he was announced as a Mercedes driver.
The 40-year-old said via ESPN: “I was quite emotional this morning. But really happy for Kimi and for this team. I know Kimi is going to do a great job.”
Mercedes will likely be fighting for podiums and race wins this year, although McLaren and Ferrari, in particular, were a step ahead in 2024.
Antonelli will have to deal with the pressure of battling against his teammate George Russell, who comfortably out-qualified Hamilton last year 18-6.
He is under much more pressure than other rookies, such as Lawson, as the Kiwi is expected to be slower than Verstappen. By contrast, Antonelli is completely inexperienced, while Lawson has 12 races under his belt at Racing Bulls.
This season may be a transitional year for Antonelli to adjust to the expectations of Formula 1 while competing for pole positions and race wins before 2026’s new rules are introduced.
A strong start in the opening flyaways will allow the Italian to build confidence, but he needs to keep errors to a minimum. Verstappen had conversations with Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff last year, which may compound an already difficult scenario.