This season began with six rookies on the grid, and the arrival of Franco Colapinto at Alpine partway through the year brought the total to seven. As expected, none have been able to match the top drivers just yet, but each has had moments that show why they were given their chance.
 

Gabriel Bortoleto

Bortoleto has had the tough task of going up against a very experienced teammate in Hulkenberg. Race pace has generally been in Hulkenberg’s favour, but Bortoleto’s form was gradually improving before his teammate’s surprise podium at Silverstone reset the balance. He managed to score points in three races so far, concretely Austria, Belgium and Hungary. He has also been able to get the car into Q2 on a regular basis and even delivered the team’s only Q3 of the season. Some of that comes down to timing and circumstances, but it is still a promising sign. If he can bring that same sharpness into race conditions, the second half of the year could be stronger.

Oliver Berman

Bearman has been the most consistent rookie so far, even if he has not hit the spectacular heights some expected. He has not yet matched his more experienced teammate Ocon in outright performance, but three points finishes and four further 11th places show that he is regularly in the fight for the top ten. In a tightly packed midfield, that consistency matters, and Bearman has made few mistakes. He may not be dominating headlines, but he has quietly built a solid first half to his rookie season and could easily end the year as the top newcomer.

Liam Lawson

Lawson had a rocky start when briefly driving the Red Bull, which hasn't gone well. However, his move to Racing Bulls has been far more positive. His pace has gradually improved, and he delivered a fine sixth place in Austria, which has been his best result so far. Even so, his overall performance has been slightly behind that of his fellow rookie teammate Isaac Hadjar. There have been signs of more confidence in recent races, and if that trend continues, Lawson could close the gap in the second half of the season.

Isack Hadjar

Hadjar had a dreadful first race but responded brilliantly, quickly establishing himself as the stronger of the two Racing Bulls drivers for much of the year. He has scored the bulk of the team’s points and was regarded as the leading rookie for most of the season. However, a slight dip in form followed Lawson’s strong Austria result, and his qualifying pace has not been as strong as his race pace. Even so, his ability to bring home points in a midfield car has been impressive, and he has shown maturity beyond his years in wheel-to-wheel battles, which is a good surprise considering his past Formula 2 fierce reputation.
 

Jack Doohan

Doohan came into the year knowing he was under pressure and unfortunately did not get much time to prove himself. He was replaced after just six races without scoring a point. Despite this short run, his performances were reasonable for a rookie in an uncompetitive car. He often had to deal with difficult weekends where the car was simply not fast enough, and there were few opportunities to show what he could really do. His F1 future now depends on finding another seat or being ready should another opportunity arise.

Franco Colapinto

Colapinto joined Alpine midseason to replace Doohan. So far, his performances have been similar to the driver he replaced, with steady but unspectacular races. He is still waiting for his first points finish, and it is not yet clear whether he will see out the season. His challenge is made harder by the fact that Alpine is not currently fighting near the front, meaning he needs to maximise the limited chances that come his way.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli

Antonelli impressed immediately in Australia with a brilliant fourth place on debut, instantly marking himself out as one to watch. He has already become the youngest driver ever to lead a race and the youngest to set a fastest lap. However, his performances have been inconsistent. A podium in Canada was another high point, but since he has struggled to score high points. There have been quieter weekends where he struggled to make an impact, and his crash into Verstappen in Austria was a reminder that he is still learning. In general he has struggled on all European tracks, only scoring one point in Hungary overall and not finishing the race four times. The talent is clearly there, but turning that into regular results will be the focus from here.