What's the best path to F1? Here is how next year's rookies arrived!

Andrea Kimi Antonelli

18-year-old Kimi Antonelli was one of the most highly-regarded junior drivers before arriving in F2 for the 2023 season, so as so he skipped F3 to begin with. The now Mercedes driver had a successful carting career, and was hugely successful in the past season. Over two years, he won four titles in single-seaters, including the Italian F4 championship and FRECA as well for Prema Racing. Last season in F2, he finished sixth in the standings and won two GPs, even as Prema struggled hard. Given his early success and with Lewis Hamilton leaving, the German team and Toto Wolff already gave him the chance.

Oliver Bearman

Antonelli's F2 teammate will join Haas F1 next season, after spending his time in the feeder series as a Ferrari junior. After having a great karting career as well, the Briton won the Italian F4 title in 2021, before joining F3. There, he finished in P3 in the standings, earning a promotion to F2 with Prema Racing. In his two years, he has won 7 Grands Prix in the competition below F1, but the young driver mainly left a great impression with his debut in Saudi Arabia for Ferrari, after Carlos Sainz was unable to compete.

Gabriel Bortoleto

Unlike the previous two drivers, the Brazilian had a less successful karting and single-seater career, finishing sixth the year before joining F3. However, the former McLaren junior who will compete for Sauber next season won back-to-back titles in F3 and F2, both in his rookie years there, similarly to frontrunner drivers like Charles Leclerc or George Russell.

Isack Hadjar

Unlike the previous drivers, Hadjar is yet to win a championship in his career. He finished second twice in karting, and then before missing out on the F2 title this year, he finished third in the French F4 and the Formula Regional Asian Championships. After also testing the AlphaTauri car once and the Red Bull Racing car on three occasions in free practice sessions, Hadjar earned his chance after Sergio Perez was let go, and Liam Lawson was promoted from VCARB.

Jack Doohan

The son of motocycling legend Mick Doohan decided to skip a year of racing, and was the Alpine reserve driver this year until he could jump in to drive the car after Esteban Ocon left early. After winning a couple of Australian karting titles, Doohan began racing in European series as well. In 2021, he finished second behind Dennis Hauger in the F3 championship, and in his two seasons in F2, he finished sixth and third in the step below Formula 1.