F1 News
Clear rookie stands out for Herbert: 'Looking forward to that battle'
In 2025, a quarter of the grid will be made up of rookies in Formula 1. The five drivers joining the series will be: Oliver Bearman (Haas F1), Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes), Isack Hadjar (VCARB), Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) and Jack Doohan (Alpine F1). FIA steward and former driver Johnny Herbret believes one these young drivers stand out already.
Moreover, graduating from F2 during the '24 season, Franco Colapinto is now also without a seat. The Argentinian driver replaced Logan Sargeant after the Dutch GP, by the time Williams already had two drivers secured for the 2025 season. Speaking to Coin Poker, Herbert explained why Colapinto ended up not finding a seat elsewhere.
"Franco Colapinto has been a star who shone brightly but who’s suffered because of the crashes. These things are noticed. Suddenly a question mark appears. There was a great entry to F1 when people said, ‘Wow,’" the steward says. After finishing inside the Top 10 on two occasions, Colapinto crashed out in Brazil and then also in Las Vegas, and then was involved in incidents in Qatar and Abu Dhabi too. The latter two was not his fault, and other drivers were penalised as well.
'Bortoleto the driver to keep an eye on'
Out of the five rookie drivers next season, the one that stands out is Gabriel Bortoleto. After winning the F2 championship in his rookie season, similarly to what he did in F3 as well a year prior, a Brazilian driver will be on the grid for the first time since Felipe Massa drove for Williams. Winning the F1 title in his rookie year is hardly doable as well, however, Herbert has high hopes for Bortoleto.
"Gabriel Bortoleto is one to watch. He has done very well in F2. And he seems to have this wonderful ability to get the best out of the car and himself in all scenarios. He can be a threat to Nico Hulkenberg, which will only help his status within the team when it turns into Audi. I am looking forward to that battle," Herbert concludes about the youngster.
This article was written in collaboration with Ludo van Denderen
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