Six drivers will embark on their first full Method 1 seasons this 12 months – probably the most newcomers since 2013.
Half of the half-dozen don’t have a single begin to their names but, whereas the opposite three have already skilled the joys of lining up on a grand prix grid at the least as soon as.
However all of them are striving for a similar purpose: to safe their place on the pinnacle of motorsport. Which ones has the perfect likelihood of staying there?
Liam Lawson
Earlier F1 grand prix begins: 11
Liam Lawson is Crimson Bull’s newest try to unravel the thorny drawback of who belongs in a Method 1 staff alongside Max Verstappen. He’s the primary member of their younger driver programme to get the chance since mid-2019.
On that event Alexander Albon (who had already beforehand been dropped after which rehired by Crimson Bull) was introduced in to switch Pierre Gasly, who lasted simply 12 rounds with Verstappen. Albon was given a 12 months and a half earlier than Crimson Bull determined he couldn’t minimize it and employed Sergio Perez, who had simply been minimize free by Racing Level (now Aston Martin).
Crimson Bull’s sudden religion in Lawson makes it all of the extra curious that they handed up earlier alternatives to present him extra F1 expertise, significantly at first of 2023, once they initially positioned him in Japan’s Tremendous Method sequence and gave a seat at their second staff to outsider Nyck de Vries.
The return of Daniel Ricciardo later that 12 months saved Lawson queued up ready even longer for precious F1 seat time. Because of this, he’ll spend his first races alongside Verstappen studying a number of unfamiliar tracks.
On condition that, will Crimson Bull be extra affected person with Lawson than they had been with the likes of Gasly? If not, given this staff’s observe document, anticipate mid-season hypothesis a couple of potential swap with both of the Racing Bulls drivers, and even another person.
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli
Earlier F1 grand prix begins: 0
Mercedes’ daring resolution to advertise complete newcomer Andrea Kimi Antonelli is a stark distinction to their previous strategy.
George Russell, Antonelli’s new staff mate, needed to serve three years’ apprenticeship at Williams earlier than getting his likelihood. His predecessor Valtteri Bottas did 4 (and solely received his likelihood in 2017 as a result of Nico Rosberg walked out after successful the championship).
Nonetheless Mercedes have taken nice care each to downplay expectations of Antonelli forward of his debut and guarantee he has had the utmost attainable seat time forward of it. He started a programme driving their older F1 automobiles final 12 months. His crash 5 laps into his first look in an F1 follow session did nothing to discourage Mercedes – he was confirmed as Lewis Hamilton’s alternative the very subsequent day.
The staff has proven each indication it would take its time over bedding in Antonelli, who stands to be the third-youngest F1 driver of all time. That can go a way in direction of easing the strain on him, however this nonetheless an enormous ask for a rookie, particularly if Mercedes produce a probably race-winning automobile.
Jack Doohan
Earlier F1 grand prix begins: 1
In contrast to Lawson or Antonelli, Jack Doohan received’t anticipate to start the season with a probably race-winning automobile. However that doesn’t essentially imply the strain on him will probably be decrease.
Alpine introduced Doohan’s promotion in August final 12 months. However quickly afterwards Franco Colapinto’s debut at Williams caught the attention, and rumours adopted that Alpine had been eager to safe his companies, probably as a race driver. Final month Alpine introduced that they had reached a cope with Williams to convey Colapinto on board as their third reserve driver along with Paul Aron and Ryo Hirakawa.
Doohan was handed the prospect to make his F1 debut one race early in final 12 months’s finale. However Alpine guide Flavio Briatore’s damning-with-faint-praise evaluation “for the primary race it was okay” may have been ringing in Doohan’s ears all through the low season.
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Oliver Bearman
Earlier F1 grand prix begins: 3
It’s uncommon for a driver to get three one-off appearances in Method 1 earlier than making their ‘correct’ debut. Certainly, Oliver Bearman achieved a singular feat by scoring factors in his first two F1 begins with two completely different groups.
The primary of these got here on the punishing Jeddah Corniche Circuit as an Eleventh-hour alternative for Carlos Sainz Jnr at no much less a staff than Ferrari. Bearman, nonetheless solely 18 on the time, handed his first check in fashion.
He already is aware of Haas properly, having began two races for them and appeared in a number of follow periods. He can anticipate finding himself within the minimize and thrust of the midfield, however final 12 months’s expertise of the pressures of an actual race weekend will probably be invaluable. His former F2 staff mate Antonelli could have landed a high drive for his debut, however Bearman has the prospect to play himself in at a midfield staff whereas backers Ferrari regulate his progress.
Isack Hadjar
Earlier F1 grand prix begins: 0
The wheels are turning on Crimson Bull’s conveyor belt of younger expertise once more. After the diversions of operating the likes of Ricciardo and De Vries, Racing Bulls (as they’re now identified) are again within the function of selling the staff’s junior expertise.
Isack Hadjar’s CV lacks the conspicuous achievement of a junior championship title, however he confirmed loads of tempo in Method 2 final 12 months and a few poor luck harmed his bid for the crown.
Nonetheless, that is Crimson Bull, so he’ll expertise strain from all sides. He’s up towards a driver with 4 years’ expertise who’s burning to indicate Crimson Bull erred by overlooking him. And arising behind him is Arvid Lindblad, who’s poised to clinch the Method Regional Oceania championship earlier than making his Method 2 debut, and has already been talked up by the Crimson Bull high brass.
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Gabriel Bortoleto
Earlier F1 grand prix begins: 0
Sauber face a transition 12 months having completed final within the championship in 2024. They’ve swapped each their drivers and are making ready to develop into Audi’s works staff subsequent 12 months.
Gabriel Bortoleto subsequently faces much less strain than some rookies. However Bortoleto, beforehand a McLaren junior driver, is up towards a difficult staff mate in Nico Hulkenberg. If the Sauber is not any extra aggressive than it was final 12 months, the driving force who enters F1 with back-to-back junior titles to his title must be content material with preventing for scraps in his first season.
Over to you
Which of F1’s six rookies do you will have the best expectations of? Share your views within the feedback.
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