Ranked: 2025 F1 prospects (feat. Kimi Antonelli) competing in their first full season

The 2025 F1 season would have as many as 6 different young drivers (including Kimi Antonelli) who would be competing in their first full season. Unlike 2024, where the carryover from 2023 includes zero changes, it does appear that the move from 2024 to 2025 has been one where compensations have been seemingly made.

The grid is going to feature some brilliant and highly rated drivers. There are a couple of teenagers on the F1 grid, and then there are a few who have done the hard yards in the lower categories. With that being said, amongst these 6 drivers, how do we rate them in terms of potential and hype around them? Let's take a look.

#1 Kimi Antonelli

At the top it has to be Kimi Antonelli. The Italian driver is just a teenager and making his debut with Mercedes at just 18 years of age. The hype around him is massive, and there were moments during his F2 season where he showed why he was rated this highly.

He might be the future of F1, and for now, in terms of hype, Kimi Antonelli is at the top of this ranking.

#2 Ollie Bearman

Amidst all the hype around Kimi Antonelli, the name Ollie Bearman is being missed out a bit, even though the British driver has proved to one and all that the talent he possesses is undeniable.

Both Ollie and Kimi Antonelli were teamed up at Prema in F2, and while the Italian had the edge, it could be put down to the fact that the Brit was spending some of the weekends racing in F1.

Ollie is going to have his first full season with Haas in 2025, and this is where the true test begins for him.

#3 Gabriel Bortoleto

At no. 3 we have Gabriel Bortoleto, as he might be someone who could be destined for some great things. The young Brazilian is coming into F1, and unlike Kimi Antonelli, who doesn't have an F2 or F3 title to boast of, Bortoleto certainly does.

Alongside Nico Hulkenberg, Bortoleto is going to have a brilliant benchmark to see how he measures up in F1.

#4 Liam Lawson

This ranking might surprise a few, but Liam Lawson is 4th in terms of hype and how he's perceived in F1 right now. Unlike Kimi Antonelli, he's not that young or has the belief of a team principal behind him, and unlike a Bortoleto, he's not got the trophies and title triumphs to speak of.

He deserves the Red Bull seat for sure, but we have to see how he measures up against Max Verstappen.

#5 Isack Hadjar

At #5 we have Isack Hadjar, who almost won the F2 championship this season and only lost due to a reliability issue. The young Frenchman is a bit of an unknown quantity, as there have been moments where he's impressed and then there are others where he's struggled.

For now, though, momentum is on his side, as unlike Kimi Antonelli, who just didn't have a strong car under him, Hadjar is coming into F1 on the back of a lot of success.

#6 Jack Doohan

Jack Doohan is placed at #6, but the Australian might just be the dark horse for 2025. Born into a racing family and son of the MotoGP legend Mick Doohan, Jack has had a somewhat stop-start run in junior series but impressed everyone in all of them.

It's hard to pin down how good or bad he is, but one has to hope he gets his due at Alpine, a team notoriously in the bad graces of the fans for the way it has treated Esteban Ocon.