The battle of the rookies is always a fascinating subplot in Formula 1, and in 2025, Isack Hadjar is emerging as a leading contender. With an unusually large rookie class on the grid this season, including talented drivers such as Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Gabriel Bortoleto, Liam Lawson, Jack Doohan and since Imola, Franco Colapinto, Hadjar has stood out.
Hadjar’s rookie season got off to a disastrous start with a formation lap spin in Australia, which drew sharp criticism from Dr. Helmut Marko. However, rather than letting this setback define his year, the young French driver has bounced back with strong performances. Is Hadjar the leading bid for the Rookie of the Year title?
From the formation lap disaster to fighting for points
At the Australian GP, he achieved an impressive P11 qualifying position, but then spun out on the formation lap in wet conditions. Red Bull’s Dr. Helmut Marko described this mistake as embarrassing. However, Hadjar did not let this setback define his season.
Isack Hadjar crashes out! 😮
Terminal damage on the formation lap for a devastated Hadjar #F1 #AusGP pic.twitter.com/PMmXQCnmA9
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 16, 2025
He bounced back with a strong P7 in qualifying in China, beating his more experienced teammate Yuki Tsunoda. He continued this upward trajectory in Japan, qualifying in P7 again and scoring his first Formula 1 points with an eighth-place finish in the race. More points followed in Saudi Arabia, Imola, Monaco and Spain, which is a clear sign that he has established himself as the standout rookie of the 2025 season.
Isack Hadjar’s qualifying edge and race day dominance
Hadjar’s qualifying record reflects his raw speed. In the first two races, his qualifying record against Yuki Tsunoda was 1-1, proving that he could match the experienced Japanese driver right away. Since Lawson replaced Tsunoda, Hadjar has raised his game, winning six qualifying duels to Lawson’s one. With consistent, strong performances on Saturdays, he has proven to be the quicker driver at Racing Bulls.
🚨| Isack Hadjar jokes post race about his first points in F1:
“It feels good, finding first points and honestly I think it’s the best place to score your first ones. It’s my favourite track, so yeah. Definitely it was on purpose, you know, in Melbourne, Shanghai, to wait for… pic.twitter.com/L69v6RsmEZ
— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) April 6, 2025
On Sundays, Hadjar has been just as impressive. After again drawing level with Tsunoda in the first two races, he has won every race against Lawson so far, giving him a perfect record at 7-0. His ability to convert qualifying into points, avoid trouble and make smart race decisions has given Hadjar a clear edge over his teammate.
Rookie of the Year Battle: Hadjar vs. Bortoleto vs. Antonelli
Antonelli impressed with his raw speed, securing pole position in the sprint race in Miami. However, he struggled to match his teammate George Russell over a full race weekend. Bortoleto has shown glimpses of pace at Sauber, but he is yet to score any points.
👏| The Japanese Grand Prix saw Isack Hadjar score his first points in Formula 1 with an impressive 8th place finish!#F1 #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/2M0vKnmfbT
— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) April 6, 2025
His record against the vastly experienced teammate Hülkenberg is solid, standing at 4-5 in qualifying and 3-6 in races. In contrast, Isack Hadjar has translated consistency into results, which is a key factor in the fight for Rookie of the Year.
