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The current F1 grid is arguably one of the most talent-rich grids we've seen in a long time, with the consistent influx of some great talent in the last few years being a contributing factor. The grid has some great experienced drivers in Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel, but at the same time, the stars of the future are starting to make an impact on the sport already.
In this piece, we rank the next generation of young star drivers on the grid. The criteria are that they should be aged 25 or less, should have completed at least one season in F1, and most importantly, shown glimpses of the talent they possess. We've excluded Max Verstappen from this list because, well, he's already a world champion.
The Next F1 Generation ranked (From worst to the best)
#6 Mick Schumacher
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It's hard to assess too much about Mick Schumacher's driving after a rookie season at Haas, but first impressions aren't too bad. He was known for taking his time getting used to a new category and more often than not doing his best work in the second season (he did the same in F2 and F3). The German did, however, have a decent rookie season in F1, with multiple forays into Q2 on qualifying day with a team that stopped development on their 2021 car early in the season.
Early impressions do reveal a consistent driver with some good peaks, but a clearer picture should reveal itself this season.
#5 Esteban Ocon
With a win and a podium already under his belt, it's hard to say that Esteban Ocon has not ticked a few boxes off the F1 checklist. He was a hyped Mercedes protege destined for big things when he made his debut with Force India in 2017.
Although he's still not lived up to that hype and has seen George Russell take that Mercedes seat, the French driver keeps pegging away and is going to be part of the sport's grid for some time.
The Next F1 Generation Ranked (cont.)
#4 Pierre Gasly
That stint at Red Bull against Max Verstappen could have proven disastrous for any other driver, but Pierre Gasly is not one of those. The young Frenchman has seen his stock rise at Alpha Tauri ever since he was unceremoniously demoted from Red Bull.
He's picked up multiple podiums and already has a win at Monza to his name. On his days, Gasly has shown that he can compete and even beat the frontrunners on the grid. He finds himself fourth in the rankings, however, because of a marginally less consistent string of performances compared to the best.
#3 George Russell
George Russell will be driving a Mercedes during the F1 2022 season. If he ends up challenging Lewis Hamilton and even fighting for the title this season, it won't be a huge surprise for anyone. The biggest highlight of his F1 career, however, has been his ability to punch above the weight of his car. The podium at Spa is a testament to that.
His lack of mileage at the front, or even in midfield, is what lands him third in the standings right now. Should he live up to his potential at Mercedes, we could see him even higher on this list in the future.
#2 Lando Norris
One of the key aspects of Lando Norris' F1 career has been his ability to improve every season. Every year, the McLaren driver has made incremental progress in his racing ability and the result is there for all to notice.
He proved himself last season and showed that he can take on and beat some of the best drivers on the grid. At the moment, Norris is one of, if not, the best drivers on the grid and a potential star of the next generation.
#1 Charles Leclerc
It's hard not to put a driver at the top of these rankings that was able to displace a four-time world champion at Ferrari. Yet that is what Charles Leclerc did. The driver showed in only his first season with Ferrari that he was capable of fighting at the front of the grid with the big boys.
His stock might have taken a hit in the last two seasons because of a few too many incidents. The Monegasque, however, still seems like the driver, just like Max Verstappen, that is ready to fight for the title and win it when the opportunity comes.
