Formula One has seen a dramatic influx of new talent for the 2025 season, with six rookies making their full-time debuts – the biggest intake since 2010. With many established names moving teams or leaving the sport altogether, the stage has been set for a new generation to stake their claim at the pinnacle of motorsport. Among this exciting crop of young drivers is Isack Hadjar, who has caught the eye of one of the sport’s greatest icons, Lewis Hamilton.
Speaking at a recent fan event in London, Hamilton opened up about which of the newcomers had impressed him the most, revealing that Hadjar, who now drives for Red Bull’s sister team Racing Bulls, was his personal favourite among the rookies.
A new era begins: Six rookies make their mark
The 2025 season has been a revolution for the Formula One grid. Among the new faces, 18-year-old prodigy Andrea Kimi Antonelli made headlines by stepping straight into a full-time Mercedes seat, succeeding none other than Hamilton himself. His rise from Formula 2 to one of the sport’s most prestigious teams was one of the biggest stories of the winter.
Oliver Bearman, another F2 standout, earned a full-time seat at Haas following his eye-catching cameo for Ferrari in 2024. Bearman’s promotion was widely anticipated and welcomed by many in the paddock, who see him as one of the most promising young British talents.
Meanwhile, Red Bull made a bold move by promoting 2024 Formula 2 runner-up Isack Hadjar to the Racing Bulls. It was a pivotal move, indicative of Red Bull’s continued emphasis on developing young, aggressive drivers through its junior programme.
Other notable changes included the short-lived promotion of Liam Lawson to the main Red Bull team. Lawson was initially given a two-race stint in place of the underperforming Sergio Perez, but failed to impress, with Yuki Tsunoda reclaiming the seat.
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Hamilton names Hadjar his favourite rookie
At a special event for a trading card company working with Formula One, Hamilton was asked a playful but telling question by The Athletic: “Whose trading card of the current F1 grid would you most like to collect?
Smiling, Hamilton replied: “Obviously, Kimi (Antonelli). (Oliver) Bearman. Isack Hadjar is probably my favourite, he’s really cool.”
Hamilton’s admiration for the rookies reflects his long-standing support for young drivers making their way in the sport. Having fought his own battles to reach the pinnacle of motorsport, Hamilton remains acutely aware of the challenges rookies face both on and off the track.
One touching detail emerged from Hadjar’s difficult debut weekend: Hamilton’s father, Anthony Hamilton, was seen offering words of comfort to Hadjar after the young Frenchman crashed during the formation lap of his first race. It was a gesture that spoke volumes about the compassion of the Hamilton family and the camaraderie that still exists in the hyper-competitive world of F1.
Hadjar’s shaky start and impressive comeback
Isack Hadjar’s introduction to Formula One was far from ideal. On his debut race weekend, Hadjar crashed on the formation lap, knocking him out before the Grand Prix had even started. The mistake drew harsh public criticism, particularly from Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko, known for his blunt assessments.
Behind closed doors, however, Marko is reported to have calmed Hadjar down, telling him to concentrate on doing better at the Chinese Grand Prix. That behind-the-scenes encouragement seems to have paid off. Hadjar quickly turned his fortunes around, scoring points in Japan and Saudi Arabia.
In Saudi Arabia Hadjar’s performance drew widespread praise from the paddock. Not only did he score points, but he did so with a mature drive that showed a racing ability beyond his years. Le Mans legend Tom Kristensen, among others, singled out Hadjar for his impressive resilience and clean, calculated performance under pressure.
Hadjar’s growing confidence has helped him move up the standings, where he is now level on points with Tsunoda and ahead of Liam Lawson, who is still searching for his first points of the season.
Hadjar’s rise mirrors Hamilton’s early journey
Hamilton’s praise for Hadjar is more than a simple nod of approval; it’s a recognition of a spirit that he himself embodied when he burst onto the F1 scene in 2007. Hamilton’s debut season was marked by aggressive yet intelligent driving, rapid adaptation to the pressures of F1 and a refusal to be intimidated by more experienced rivals.
Hadjar’s determination to bounce back from early setbacks, combined with his cool demeanour and solid race performances, seems to have struck a chord with the seven-time world champion. In many ways, Hadjar’s resilience mirrors the qualities that have made Hamilton a generational talent.
The road ahead for Isack Hadjar
Hadjar’s rookie season is still in its early stages, but his promising start has already changed perceptions of his potential. In a Red Bull ecosystem notorious for its ruthless driver decisions, Hadjar’s ability to consistently deliver results could pave the way for future promotion to the main Red Bull team.
It is clear that the pressure will only increase as the season progresses. Expectations are high and Hadjar will need to continue to hone his skills, particularly in qualifying where a few mistakes have cost him better starting positions. Nevertheless, the foundations are strong. With Lewis Hamilton’s public endorsement and growing respect within the paddock, Hadjar is well on his way to becoming one of the standout stories of the 2025 F1 season.
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A closer look at the 2025 rookie class
While Hadjar currently holds the title of Hamilton’s favourite rookie, the wider 2025 rookie class is one of the most exciting in recent memory. Andrea Kimi Antonelli has shown flashes of brilliance and maturity beyond his years, despite the enormous pressure of replacing a Mercedes legend. Oliver Bearman continues to grow at Haas and his technical feedback has already impressed the team’s engineers.
Other rookies, including the likes of Franco Colapinto at Alpine and the returning Jack Doohan at the same team, are also finding their place in the complex web of Formula One stories this year.
Each of these young riders carries the hopes of their teams and fans, bringing a new sense of excitement to each race weekend. As the 2025 season unfolds, it is clear that the torch is slowly being passed to a new generation – one that could redefine the future of Formula One for years to come.
And among them, according to Lewis Hamilton, Isack Hadjar could be the coolest of them all.
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With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
