With five rookie drivers set to make their full-time F1 debut this season, there is an added zest as this weekend’s season-opener in Melbourne approaches. Building up to the start of the racing action, Laura Winter sat down with the latest batch of newbies to give fans a lowdown on things ranging from their careers, race personas and even personal quirks.
The likes of Isack Hadjar, Kimi Antonelli, Oliver Bearman, Jack Doohan, and Gabriel Bortoleto discussed many aspects of their road to F1, including the rivalries they faced and overcame during their junior careers.
Bortoleto, Sauber’s 2025 recruit, revealed a sim-racing crash at an esports event that involved him and Bearman. That led to a bitter spat between the duo in 2021. Furious at the incident, they had an hour-long, heated social media exchange in the comments section of the event.
Both the drivers have clearly moved on from the incident. However, while talking to Winter, the 20-year-old Brazilian playfully reignited that rivalry by threatening to avenge it on the F1 track this year.
“When I see him on track I’m going to put him in the wall,” jibed Bortoleto. But he laughed out loud almost immediately, saying, “No, no we get along pretty well.”
Quickfire questions with our 2025 rookies
Laura Winter sits down with Ollie Bearman, Gabriel Bortoleto, Jack Doohan, Isack Hadjar and Kimi Antonelli ahead of the 2025 season ▶️#F1
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 11, 2025
It may have been all fun and games during this catch-up between the rookies. However, an on-track incident between Bortoleto and Bearman is not a far-fetched possibility in 2025. With the Briton racing for Haas, and Bortoleto for Sauber, their proximity in terms of pace could see them involved in many wheel-to-wheel battles.
Given the average age of this group of rookies is just under 20, the relative inexperience, and youthful vigor to prove themselves, may lead to several incidents too. However, from their banter, it seems that they are quite jolly and are likely to move on quickly if and when sparks fly.
When Antonelli angered Doohan with a lighthearted prank
Incidents from the past did not just revisit Bearman and Bortoleto during the session. As it turns out, Antonelli’s propensity for being a practical joker once pushed Doohan over the edge.
The Italian racing ace reminded Doohan about a time when he dropped water on the Australian from above the pit lane building. “You were so mad,” recalled Antonelli before revealing that Doohan was so angry at him that he flipped him off.
And while the Mercedes driver vividly remembers this incident, Doohan brushed it off by saying he has no recollection of it whatsoever. Perhaps the Alpine junior was trying to avoid the awkward admission of his R-rated reaction.
In all fairness, Antonelli is infamous in the paddock for his sharp memory. And that’s probably why he managed to recollect the incident.
