Ranking F1's 2025 Rookie Class and Their Key 2026 Challenges

The 2025 Formula 1 season featured a remarkably talented rookie crop that could shape the future of the sport. Isack Hadjar emerged as the top performer, showcasing impressive consistency and adaptability with Racing Bulls. While Ollie Bearman and Kimi Antonelli also flashed their potential, the entire class now faces a pivotal 2026 season, with each driver assigned a critical mission to prove their long-term Formula 1 credentials.

Why it matters:

• A strong influx of new talent is the lifeblood of F1, creating fresh rivalries and storylines that captivate fans.
• These drivers are filling seats at powerhouse teams like Red Bull, Ferrari, and Mercedes, and their development will directly impact the championship fight for years to come.
• Their performance in 2026 will not only determine their own careers but also influence team strategies, driver market dynamics, and the overall competitive balance of the grid.

The details:

• Isack Hadjar (1st): Delivered a standout rookie season, marked by remarkable consistency—failing to escape Q1 only twice—and a brilliant podium in Zandvoort. He proved adaptable and mentally resilient after a tough start in Australia.
  • 2026 Challenge: Faces the steepest learning curve of all, tasked with performing as Max Verstappen's teammate at Red Bull, a role that has broken other highly-rated drivers.
• Ollie Bearman (2nd): Showed frustrating inconsistency in the first half but made significant strides after the summer break, culminating in a superb fourth-place finish in Mexico.
  • 2026 Challenge: Must build on his late-season form to deliver consistent, standout results with Haas, putting himself in prime position for a potential Ferrari promotion in 2027.
• Kimi Antonelli (3rd): Endured a rollercoaster debut year, hampered by car instability and inexperience but showing flashes of raw speed and a remarkable capacity to learn, ending the season strongly.
  • 2026 Challenge: Needs to consistently challenge and occasionally beat teammate George Russell to justify Mercedes' long-term investment in him as a future world champion.
• Gabriel Bortoleto (4th): Looked like a potential top rookie early on but struggled with form and qualifying execution in the second half of the season, scoring only twice in the final 10 races.
  • 2026 Challenge: Must reassert his dominance over Nico Hülkenberg and become the undisputed team leader as Audi prepares for its official entry.
• Franco Colapinto (5th): Disadvantaged by a late start and a difficult Alpine car, but showed moments of pace comparable to teammate Pierre Gasly, especially mid-season.
  • 2026 Challenge: Needs to translate his flashes of speed into concrete results early in the season to silence doubters and prove his value beyond his commercial backing.
• Jack Doohan (6th): His season was unfairly cut short by team politics, making a full assessment difficult. He showed underlying speed but was replaced before he could fully prove his worth.
  • 2026 Challenge: Will look to rebuild his reputation and remind the paddock of his talent by competing in Super Formula.

What's next:

The 2026 season, with its new technical regulations, represents a massive opportunity and a high-stakes test for this entire rookie class. For Hadjar, Antonelli, and Bearman, the pressure is immense as they compete in top machinery with championship expectations. For Bortoleto and Colapinto, it's about cementing their status as team leaders and proving their early promise was no fluke. How these six drivers navigate their specific challenges will be one of the defining storylines of the upcoming F1 season, potentially setting the stage for the next generation of stars.