Racers at a photoshoot before a race.

Up-and-Coming F1 Drivers of 2025

Racers at a photoshoot before a race.

The powerful humming of engines, the waving of checkered flags, and the shouts of electrifying crowds leave you feeling revved up every Formula 1 season — and you have no plans to hit the brakes on your F1 obsession anytime soon. Fortunately, if the captivating 2024 F1 season is an indication of the future, the 2025 Formula 1 season won’t leave you disappointed, either.

With iconic drivers like Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, and Charles Leclerc winning Grand Prix races and clinching championships in 2024, you can expect the same level of excitement in 2025 with the introduction of several budding new drivers. These new 2025 F1 drivers, who are ready to make history with dramatic finishes that will leave you on the edge of your seat, are bringing their full-throttle A-game. Let’s explore the top up-and-coming Formula 1 drivers of 2025.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli

Andrea Kimi Antonelli sitting in his car.

Taste and see the greatness of one of Italy’s finest drivers in F1 in 2025. Andrea Kimi Antonelli will shift gears from Formula 2 to Formula 1, the world’s highest formula racing class for single-seater drivers. He’s the first Italian driver to grace the F1 stage since 2021, when Antonio Giovinazzi competed.

Antonelli will take Lewis Hamilton’s seat at Mercedes in 2025 after joining the Mercedes Junior Team in 2019. Antonelli, who won several titles throughout his karting career, smoothly transitioned to single-seaters. He took home the Formula Regional European Championship (2023), the ADAC F4 Championship (2022), and the Italian F4 Championship (2022). He finished sixth after winning several races in his first Formula 2 season in 2024.

Gabriel Bortoleto

Gabriel Bortoleto holding a trophy.

Watch this up-and-coming Brazilian driver put the pedal to the metal on a new level with other rising F1 drivers in 2025. In 2023, Gabriel Bortoleto took home the Formula 2 Championship, and he remains a serious competitor for future Formula 15 opportunities due to his steady performance and expertise. In 2025, Bortoleto will join Sauber, where you’ll get to witness him further his formula racing career. He’ll take Valtteri Bottas’ spot at Sauber, as Bottas and Zhou Guanyu departed the team after the 2024 season. At Sauber, Bortoleto will drive alongside Nico Hulkenberg, contributing a unique combination of youth and expertise.

Isack Hadjar

Isack Hadjar flexing in his team shirt.

Burning rubber is the specialty of new 2025 F1 drivers like French racer Isack Hadjar, a member of Formula 2. The highly acclaimed contender is a possible Red Bull Racing candidate. Hadjar has demonstrated tremendous skill and potential, with many fans in the racing community taking notice of his Formula 2 performances. If Sergio Perez is transferred to Red Bull’s junior squad, VCARB, Hadjar is anticipated to take his spot at Red Bull Racing.

Oliver Bearman

Oliver Bearman wearing his racing gear.

Prepare to see this British racer hit the gas more aggressively than ever in 2025. After enrolling in the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2022, Bearman immediately established himself as a force to be reckoned with. In 2021, he took home the ADAC F4 Championship and the Italian F4 Championship. Bearman secured third place in the Formula 3 championship before moving on to Formula 2 in 2023, where he finished sixth in the standings and won four races during his debut season. He finally made his Formula 1 debut in 2024, serving as a reserve driver for Haas and Ferrari, and will race with Haas full-time for the first time in 2025. Bearman will take Nico Hulkenberg’s spot at Haas.

Jack Doohan

Jack Doohan sitting in his F1 car.

This Australian race car driver, one of the top new 2025 F1 drivers, is on a fast track to flourishing in Formula 1. Jack Doohan will compete with Alpine in 2025 after making his F1 debut at the Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi in 2023. During his time in Formula 2, Doohan showed promise by continuously achieving strong results and accumulating significant experience. Doohan will take Esteban Ocon’s seat at Alpine since Ocon consented to leave the team early to join Haas.

Liam Lawson

Liam Lawson smiling in his racing gear.

This New Zealander racer is ready to enter the Formula 1 grid with Red Bull Racing during the upcoming season. The move comes after Liam Lawson established himself in Formula 2 and caught people’s attention as a Red Bull Racing reserve driver. Numerous teams have taken notice of his performances. Expect him to succeed Sergio Perez should Red Bull Racing decide to make a change in light of Perez’s lackluster 2024 season performances.

Celebrate the Newest Drivers of 2025 With F1 Merch

At CMC Motorsports®, we offer a wide variety of licensed, official Formula 1 merchandise. From jackets to hats and accessories like phone cases, our selection has everything you need to support your favorite team and 2025’s up-and-coming F1 drivers at home or trackside. Capture the thrill of the track by ordering today!

March 13, 2025 — CMC Motorsports
Back of the Red Bull F1 car.

Technical Evolution Innovations For F1 Cars

The seemingly palpable excitement of the crowds, the adrenaline rush that occurs on the race track, and the youthful fervor of some of the world’s greatest drivers aren’t the only reasons to love Formula 1 races. Contrary to popular belief, exceptional drivers and their iconic teams aren’t the only stars of the best Formula 1 competition.  

There’s nothing quite like a Formula 1 car in the world of racing. 

January 13, 2025 — CMC Motorsports
F1 cars taking a corner on a track.

4 Most Difficult F1 Tracks

Although every Formula 1 track has unique qualities that make it exciting, some are more challenging than others. The more difficult a track is, the more exhilarating the adventure for spectators and racers alike. Let’s explore four of the most difficult F1 tracks that are perfect for pushing drivers—and your nerves—to the limit.

January 03, 2025 — CMC Motorsports
Red Bull Racing F1 Drivers Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez

Everything You Need to Know About the 2024 Season

Formula 1 has long been known for speed, adrenaline, and raw power, engaging audiences both trackside and around the world. Now, F1’s 2024 racing season is in full swing, and like many fans, you may be racing to catch the action.

What’s coming down the track for 2024? Let’s explore everything you need to know about the 2024 F1 season and how you can capture the thrill of the track.

April 11, 2024 — CMC Motorsports
Tags: The Drift
Formula 1 race car on the track

Best, Most Popular Drivers of 2023

Who are the most popular F1 drivers of 2023, and how can you tangibly show your support for them? Let’s explore the best F1 drivers of 2023 and the best merch available to support your favorite teams and drivers.
March 06, 2024 — CMC Motorsports
Daniel Ricciardo holding his helmet

Driver Transfers and Rumors

Most Formula 1 teams have decided to retain their existing drivers for 2024. This means the majority of the Formula 1 grid will remain mostly unchanged. Teams like Mercedes and Ferrari are maintaining their current lineups. However, not everything about the 2024 season is straightforward. Let’s explore the top F1 driver transfer rumors and confirmed Formula 1 driver transfers and how they may affect the involved teams.
March 06, 2024 — CMC Motorsports
Lewis Hamilton black and green car

Final 2023 F1 Standings

Abu Dhabi was home to the last Formula 1 race during the Formula 1 2023 season, and the United Arab Emirates capital city didn’t disappoint racing fans all over the world.

Who took home bragging rights in 2023, and which teams and drivers have the greatest room for improvement in 2024? Let’s explore the Formula 1 final standings for 2023 and what the final 2023 F1 standings mean for the racing landscape in the coming year.

February 05, 2024 — CMC Motorsports
red car racing down track

F1 and Sustainability

A part of you wonders whether the sport you love is harming the environment, though, leaving you asking, “What is the carbon footprint of Formula 1?”

You’re not the only one with these concerns. Formula 1 in 2019 launched a plan to achieve net-zero emissions by 2030. This means the organization is striving to make it to where the carbon dioxide emitted into the air equals the amount removed from the atmosphere, leading to zero net carbon emitted, or a neutral carbon footprint.

Let’s explore Formula 1’s sustainability strategy and what the F1 2030 net zero goal means for drivers — and you.

February 05, 2024 — CMC Motorsports
Max Verstappen black and yellow car on track

2023 F1 Champion Highlight: Max Verstappen

Verstappen’s ability to shake up the F1 landscape during the past several years isn’t a fluke or a gift from Lady Luck. He’s earned every championship he’s won, and his future remains bright with Red Bull Racing. Let’s dive into Verstappen’s racing history, F1 performance, and what the future holds.
February 05, 2024 — CMC Motorsports
F1 car on track with jets overhead

Thanksgiving Weekend: Abu Dhabi 2023

You’re not the only one ready for the Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix 2023, Formula 1’s final race this season. The drivers are gearing up for the big day, ready to satisfy their and their fans’ need for speed. Who will take home the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) medal is anybody’s guess, but we have a few predictions. Let’s explore the big players in the Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix 2023 and who may dominate the track with flying colors when FIA officials wave the checkered flag.
November 22, 2023 — CMC Motorsports
F1 car spinning tires on the track

The 2024 F1 Season: Schedule and Story Lines

This flashy European sport received a boost when the F1-focused Netflix series Drive to Survive debuted in 2019. Formula 1 has since set records, drawing its highest number of race attendees and TV viewers in 2022.

As Formula 1 wraps up its 2023 season in November, during its famed Abu Dhabi Grand Prix race, what’s in store for 2024? Let’s explore the Formula 1 2024 schedule and what the F1 2024 season has to offer.

November 22, 2023 — CMC Motorsports
Fireworks light the sky as the F1 car crosses the line.

What Is the F1 Offseason Like?

You may view the Formula 1 offseason as a lull between the speed-fueled races your inner adrenaline junkie lives for. It’s anything but that. Formula 1 drivers are just as busy during the offseason as when the season commences in the spring. Their focus is simply different.

In a sport that continues to draw new fanatics worldwide thanks to its highly skilled drivers, captivating competitions, and push for innovation, let’s take a peek at what the F1 offseason schedule looks like.

November 22, 2023 — CMC Motorsports