10 Gen Z racers speeding toward motorsport victory

Formula One has firmly established itself in pop and sports culture over the past few years. Whether you’re binge-watching Netflix’s Drive To Survive, glued to the races on weekends, or catching the action live, the F1 craze is undeniable. With the Singapore F1 season just around the corner, excitement is building as fans from around the globe prepare to travel to Singapore for the race.

Breaking into Formula 1 is no easy feat, with only 20 coveted spots available on the grid each racing season. Yet, the relentless wave of young talent continues to rise, with fresh faces emerging in the junior racing ranks every year. From karting prodigies to ambitious racers fighting for a place at the pinnacle of motorsport, the future of F1 looks bright.

Recently, four Gen Z drivers have made it to the big leagues, either making their debut this season or securing their spot for 2025. Ollie Bearman and Franco Colapinto have already tasted the F1 action this year, while Kimi Antonelli and Jack Doohan are set to make their debuts in 2025. 

With a new generation preparing to shake up the grid, we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 rising stars you need to keep an eye on before they become the next motorsport legends.

Oliver ‘Ollie’ Bearman

Nationality: British

Age: 19

Category: F2

Current team: Prema Racing 

Why know him: Currently competing in Formula 2, this British driver made headlines with his Formula 1 debut at the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, stepping in for Carlos Sainz Jr. during his recovery from appendicitis. Impressively, he finished seventh, earning six points for Ferrari and even outpacing fellow Brit and F1 legend Lewis Hamilton. Just four months later, he signed a multi-year deal with Haas Racing, preparing for his full-season debut in 2025. He also hosts a YouTube series titled The Bear Necessities, offering a behind-the-scenes look at his life as a full-time F1 driver while still being a teenager.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli

Nationality: Italian

Age: 18

Category: F2

Current team: Prema Racing 

Why know him: In the motorsport world, Kimi Antonelli is one name that’s making headlines. His talent speaks for itself – just as he turned 18, the minimum age requirement for F1, he was quickly signed by the Mercedes-AMG racing team as their second driver for the 2025 F1 season, replacing none other than Lewis Hamilton. This move comes as no surprise, given that Antonelli had already been hailed as a “teenage sensation” and “racing prodigy” long before his F1 debut. While most teens are studying for their driver’s licences, he’s gearing up to race one of the fastest cars in the world.

Liam Lawson

Nationality: New Zealander

Age: 22

Category: F1 

Current team: Reserve driver for Red Bull Racing

Why know him:Liam Lawson quickly made an impression during his brief stint in Formula One with AlphaTauri in the 2023 season. He stepped in for Daniel Ricciardo, who was sidelined by a broken hand during practice for the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix. Lawson competed in five rounds and earned his first F1 points in just his third race at the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix – one of the most physically and mentally challenging races of the year.

Franco Colapinto

Nationality: Argentine

Age: 21

Category: F1 

Current team: Williams Racing 

Why know him:Many casual F1 fans were taken aback when it was announced mid-season that 21-year-old Colapinto, who previously competed in F2, would be stepping in to replace Logan Sargeant at Williams Racing, effective immediately. A member of the Williams Driver Academy since 2023, Colapinto is also the first Argentine to race in Formula One since 2001. Notably, his career has been marked by an impressive record of few crashes or retirements. Throughout his F2 and F3 career, he has experienced only four race-ending collisions – an impressive feat in a high-pressure sport.

Bianca Bustamante

Nationality: Filipina 

Age: 19

Category: F1 Academy

Current team: Art Grand Prix  

Why know her: In 2022, Bustamante made history as the first Filipina racing driver to compete in the W Series, the premier women’s motorsport event. Having started kart racing at just five years old, she now races with ART Grand Prix, one of the top junior teams, in the F1 Academy series – a remarkable achievement in the male-dominated world of motorsport. Recently, she was also selected for the McLaren Driver Development Programme, becoming the first female to achieve this distinction.

Jack Doohan

Nationality: Australian 

Age: 21

Category: F1

Current team: Reserve driver for Alpine Racing

Why know him: Among the notable promotions for next year’s F1 season is Doohan’s move to Alpine F1, where he will partner with Pierre Gasly. This promotion isn’t surprising, given that Doohan has been part of Alpine’s academy since 2022 and has served as a reserve driver for the team since 2023. Furthermore, racing runs in his veins – Doohan is the son of Mick Doohan, the five-time 500cc world champion.

Doriane Pin

Nationality: French

Age: 20

Category: F1 Academy 

Current team: Iron Dames 

Why know her: Currently, she competes in the F1 Academy with Prema Racing and in the Formula Regional European Championship with the Iron Dames. She is also part of the Mercedes Junior Team. Her notable achievements include winning the 2022 Ferrari Challenge Europe title, securing a class victory at the 2022 24 Hours of Spa, and triumphing in various Formula 4 series. As of press time, Pin is in second place in the F1 Academy standings and is sure to continue making an impact.

Isack Hadjar

Nationality: French-Algerian 

Age: 19

Category: F2

Current team: Campos Racing

Why know him: He previously raced in the 2023 Formula 2 Championship for Hitech Pulse-Eight and also competed in the FIA Formula 3 Championship with Hitech, finishing the season in fourth place. Hadjar, a member of the Red Bull Junior Team, has been consistently fast throughout the F2 season. As of press time, he leads the standings with three races remaining and holds a 10.5-point advantage over his closest rival, ensuring an exciting finish to the season.

Leonardo Fornaroli

Nationality: Italian 

Age: 19

Category: F2

Current team: Invicta Racing

Why know him: When discussing the lower formulae championship battles in 2024, Leonardo Fornaroli’s achievements are hard to overlook. The teenager clinched the Formula 3 championship at Monza on Sunday, becoming the first Italian to win the title without securing a single race victory. This achievement is believed to be unprecedented in 21st-century junior single-seater racing, particularly at the F3 level. Instead of race wins, which 12 other drivers managed this year, Fornaroli earned seven podiums – six of them in feature races – and scored points in 18 of the 20 races. Less than a week after this remarkable win, Fornaroli was announced as being promoted to Formula 2 for the 2025 season.

Marta Garcia

Nationality: Spanish

Age: 23

Category: Formula Regional European Championship

Current team: Iron Dames 

Why know her: Marta Garcia made history as the inaugural F1 Academy Champion in 2023, clinching the title with two races to spare. Known for her consistent podium finishes and race wins, the Spaniard’s impressive track record also includes victories in the W Series and titles such as the CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy and the Trofeo delle Industrie in 2015, the latter being the oldest kart race in the world. Garcia is now embarking on a new challenge with a fully funded seat in the Formula Regional European Championship with Alpine.

This article was originally published in Female.