The 2025 Formula 1 season has seen seven rookies take to the track. Each of them have had varying levels of success.
Six newcomers started the season, but by the Emilia Romagna GP, two had already lost their seats. Liam Lawson was dropped back down to Racing Bulls after failing to get out of Q1 in the opening two races with Red Bull, while Jack Doohan was replaced by Franco Colapinto at Alpine after six races.
Heading into the Singapore Grand Prix, Colapinto remains the only driver on the grid yet to score a point, while Lawson comes off the back of his best weekend in Baku. Qualifying an incredible third, he finished P5 in the race.
Position Drivers’ Championship PointsPts 1 324 2 299 3 255 4 212 5 165 6 121 7 78 8 70 9 39 10 37 11 32 12 31 13 30 14 30 15 28 16 20 17 20 18 18 19 16 20 0 21 0
Kimi Antonelli is the highest-placed rookie on the grid in 2025, sitting seventh in the standings. While he has scored his maiden podium, he has had a tough time this season, with multiple mistakes and retirements hampering him and Mercedes.
His counterparts have fared much better, however, in inferior machinery. Isack Hadjar is impressing at Racing Bulls with regular Q3 appearances and his first podium at Zandvoort.
Oliver Bearman and Gabriel Bortoleto have produced standout performances for Haas and Sauber respectively, catching the attention of their teams and other key figures in the paddock.
Photo by Dave Benett – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty ImagesGuenther Steiner names Isack Hadjar, Oliver Bearman and Gabriel Bortoleto as future ‘world champions’
Speaking via the FanCode YouTube channel, former Haas boss Guenther Steiner was asked who he felt out of the 2025 rookies were equipped to be a world champion. The 60-year-old named Hadjar, Bearman and Bortoleto as having that potential.
He said: “I think there are actually three. I mean, in the beginning of the season, for me, the biggest surprise was Isack Hadjar. Big surprise to me.
“Then I knew Ollie Bearman from before, because I did his contract in ’23, his future, so he’s pretty good as well.
“And then I was really surprised as soon as Bortoleto got a decent car, not a good car, a decent car. He showed what he can do because he has got a very strong teammate, I know Nico very well.
“So I think them three could be potential world champions. Obviously, they need to be in the right place at the right time.”
READ MORE: Who is Racing Bulls 2025 F1 driver Isack Hadjar? Everything you need to know
Photo by Joe Portlock/Getty ImagesAre Isack Hadjar, Oliver Bearman and Gabriel Bortoleto best positioned to be world champions?
There is no question that the trio are already showing their potential in F1. With strong pace in qualifying and some standout race results, they have got many teams excited about their prospects.
Hadjar is the favourite to join Red Bull in 2026, replacing Yuki Tsunoda. The team are going through a transition phase under Laurent Mekies as they become a works team next season under the new regulations.
Max Verstappen’s teammates have notoriously struggled to compete against him. But with Mekies set to improve the second Red Bull car, Hadjar could be well equipped to challenge at the front.
Bearman’s impressive displays at Haas are catching the attention of F1’s most historic team. Ferrari could sign Bearman to replace Lewis Hamilton if he retires at the end of next season; like Hadjar, he could find himself fighting at the front in 2026.
For Bortoleto, he faces more unknowns, as Sauber become Audi in 2026. The German manufacturer’s power unit may not be competitive straight away, but the Brazilian has given the team every reason to be excited as he outperforms Nico Hulkenberg in qualifying.