Ranking the Best 25-and-Under Current F1 Drivers

Which young Formula 1 drivers have the strongest combination of proven ability, current performance, and potential to become future World Champions? In this list, we selected the current drivers who are 25 years old and under, and looked at their one-lap pace, racecraft, and ability to extract the maximum from the car. 

Quick note: only eight drivers on the current grid are 25 or under. I ranked them on how they've done against their teammates, their current 2026 form, and a little weight on their upside.

Antonelli takes the top spot because he's turned his extraordinary potential into championship-leading results. There's a good reason why Toto Wolff couldn't wait to get him into a Mercedes F1 car. 

Antonelli indeed has the machinery this season, but he has shown some resiliency when the odds are stacked against him. We can't forget his incredible drive in Monza, his home race, where he stormed back from P19 at the start to win by +3.857 seconds over teammate George Russell.

Speaking of his teammate, Antonelli is also dominating that battle. Russell did have some bad luck due to car reliability problems, but Antonelli had those as well. 

Antonelli is the benchmark for young drivers on the grid, and the crazy thing is he just turned 20 this year.

Of course, this is Piastri's last opportunity to be included in the list (he's turning 26 in April next year), but he still deserves this spot. If only he scrapped some more and won the 2025 championship against Lando Norris and Max Verstappen, the McLaren driver would be at the top of the list.

Still, Piastri has done enough to trail Antonelli closely in this list. Who can forget his brave lunge past Ferrari's Charles Leclerc into Turn 1 during the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix?

At the end of the day, Piastri has 9 Grand Prix wins, 28 podiums, and 6 pole positions. 

A three-race injury layoff and recent car reliability issues dampened his momentum this season, but Hadjar has been consistently good for Red Bull. In the last 10 races (except for the Singapore GP, where he took a grid penalty and started from the pit lane), Hadjar has finished at least P6. 

The French driver impressed during his debut season for the Racing Bulls last year, which included a podium at Zandvoort. This year, he stepped into a seat that has challenged several talented drivers, but he's doing well under that kind of pressure.

A strong team player and a quick driver when it counts, Hadjar is still behind Verstappen on raw pace. But honestly, who is better than Verstappen right now? Nobody on the grid is.

Lawson has done enough to merit a Racing Bulls seat in 2027. With 62 points compared to his teammate Arvid Lindblad's 38, Lawson has carried the team through most of their midfield battle against Alpine.

Moreover, the Kiwi driver showed his adaptability skills when he immediately produced points during his brief replacement stint at Red Bull. 

By now, we'd honestly be surprised if the Racing Bulls don't confirm Lawson for the 2027 seat.

Bearman is outperforming his Haas car, while dominating his more experienced teammate. He currently has 23 points this season, compared to teammate Esteban Ocon's seven points.

The British driver also demonstrated his ability to adapt and perform under pressure when he substituted for then Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz Jr. in the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Bearman was only 18 at that time, but he finished seventh in the race, earning six points and Driver of the Day honors.

Lindblad is the youngest driver in this list, and a prized long-term bet within the Red Bull stable. He already has 38 points to his name in his rookie year, with his best result coming in the form of a sixth-place finish in Monaco.

Lindblad is exceeding all expectations for a rookie driver. Nothing's on paper yet, but his name should already be on the Racing Bulls' lineup for 2027.

Bortoleto struggled through a rookie season that saw him trail veteran teammate Nico Hulkenberg by 32 points in 2025. But the Brazilian driver has remarkably bounced back in his sophomore year, scoring 10 points to Hulkenberg's 13 so far.

Don't forget that Bortoleto arrived in F1 with an impressive junior resume, having won titles in Formula 3 and Formula 2. With Audi developing as a works team, it's worth keeping an eye on Bortoleto's development as well. 

Colapinto has speed and a passionate following, but his F1 career has involved difficult, challenging circumstances. Alpine has grown into a decent midfield car this season, but Colapinto has to reduce some of his costly errors. His tendency to go for a hero drive is a blessing and a curse.

Alpine confirmed him as their 2027 driver, but can he reduce those errors and put together a complete season?