Despite the glaring absence of any full-time newcomers in Formula 1 for the 2024 season—a decision that has not gone without its fair share of critique—the motorsport’s prestigious grid might be welcoming not one, but two fresh-faced, teenaged rookies in 2025.
Kimi Antonelli finds himself at the centre of speculation, seen by many as the protégé Toto Wolff might choose unless he gets Max Verstappen to fill the vacancy left by Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes in the coming year. In Melbourne, when pressed on the subject, Wolff was cautiously optimistic about Antonelli’s future in the sport, revealing, “I don’t know whether it will be next year and then if it will be with us.”
Rumours are swirling about plans to instead position the 17-year-old Antonelli as Logan Sargeant’s successor at the Mercedes-powered Williams team, now under the leadership of Wolff’s erstwhile deputy, James Vowles. Addressing Sargeant’s future, Vowles noted, “We have to see how much he (Sargeant) progresses as the season goes on.” Regarding the speculation surrounding Antonelli’s early links with Williams, Vowles expressed a belief in nurturing young talent but tempered expectations regarding Antonelli’s placement, stating, “I believe in investing in youth, but we’re fortunate enough to have juniors of our own. I have no doubt that Kimi will be in F1, but that doesn’t mean he’ll be at Williams, necessarily.”
Another contender for the 2025 F1 rookie spot is Oliver Bearman, an 18-year-old Ferrari junior and teammate of Antonelli at Prema, a leading Formula 2 team. Bearman recently made waves filling in for an ill Carlos Sainz in Saudi Arabia, driving a Ferrari, and now finds himself linked to a seat at Ferrari-powered-and-affiliated Haas for the upcoming season.
The experienced duo of Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg currently occupy Haas’s driver lineup. Magnussen, when questioned about the Bearman rumours, emphasized the team’s cohesive dynamic, “You know, I think we have a very good dynamic in the team. We’re working really well together. I think the journey we’re on as a team means it’s helpful having experienced drivers, but it’s obviously out of my control.” Hulkenberg offered an arguably measured take on Bearman’s prospects, suggesting a focus on Formula 2 performance as pivotal for Bearman, “I think it’s too early to say that he (Bearman) is a candidate. I think for him, first of all, he needs to focus on his performance in Formula 2. If he is not good there, his race in Jeddah will be forgotten in a couple of days. You know how it works in our sport,” he added.
Echoing Hulkenberg’s sentiment, Ferrari’s Frederic Vasseur urged caution, labeling it “far too early” to guarantee Bearman’s F1 career. Vasseur advised Bearman to concentrate on Formula 2, positing that “Now he has to be focused on F2 and I’m sure that all the journalists, the press and so on will draw a conclusion after the end of the championship. He did very well in Jeddah but we have to take it step by step.”
—GMM
