2025 Formula 1 Season Review: Driver Performances & Emerging Talent
The 2025 Formula 1 season delivered a compelling mix of established stars and rising rookies. While Red Bull continued its dominance, individual driver performances painted a nuanced picture of success and struggle. Here’s a detailed look at how several key drivers fared, analyzing their achievements, shortcomings, and overall impact on the season.
Veteran Resilience & Unexpected Performances
Pierre Gasly | Alpine: A-
Gasly arguably delivered a quietly heroic performance in what was, by all accounts, the worst car on the grid. Despite the Alpine’s fundamental lack of pace, he consistently maximized opportunities. He qualified for Q3 an impressive 11 times and secured points in seven races, showcasing remarkable skill and adaptability.
Nico Hülkenberg | Sauber: B-
Hülkenberg’s experience proved invaluable for Sauber, especially considering the team’s early-season limitations. Surprisingly, his weakness wasn’t race pace, but qualifying.He was evenly matched in single-lap performance by his rookie teammate,Gabriel Bortoleto,but consistently delivered points on Sundays,finishing 11th in the championship.
Rookie Standouts & learning Curves
Gabriel Bortoleto | Sauber: C
Bortoleto’s rookie season with Sauber showed flashes of potential, particularly after the team’s mid-season progress improvements. He secured his first points at the Austrian Grand Prix and followed it up with four more point-scoring finishes. However, it was his qualifying pace – consistently outperforming the experienced Hülkenberg 15 to 14 times – that truly stood out.
* Key Takeaway: Bortoleto’s rookie year was comparable to those of other promising newcomers like Hadjar, Bearman, and Antonelli.
Jack Doohan | Alpine: F
Doohan’s brief stint with Alpine (six races and two sprints) made a comprehensive assessment challenging. Costly errors,including a first-lap crash in Australia and a practice incident in Suzuka,hampered his progress. Though, it’s critically important to note he twice out-qualified Gasly during their short time as teammates, hinting at untapped potential.
Disappointments & Areas for Enhancement
Franco colapinto | Williams: F
The initial excitement surrounding Colapinto’s 2024 debut with Williams faded quickly in 2025. While inheriting the grid’s worst car mid-season (at Imola),he struggled to make a notable impact. He rarely appeared to be an upgrade over Jack Doohan, raising questions about his readiness for a full-time Formula 1 seat.
* Looking Ahead: Colapinto needs to demonstrate substantial improvement to convince the paddock of his long-term viability in the sport.
What Does This Mean for the Future?
The 2025 season highlighted the importance of both driver skill and competitive machinery.gasly’s performance underscored the ability to extract maximum performance from a challenging car, while the rookie performances of Bortoleto and the glimpses of potential from Doohan suggest a bright future for the sport.
Ultimately, success in Formula 1 requires a combination of talent, experience, and the right equipment. As teams prepare for the next season, understanding these dynamics will be crucial for maximizing their potential and challenging for the championship.
Disclaimer: This analysis is based on publicly available facts and expert observations from sources like ESPN and other motorsport publications.
