F2 and F3 CEO Bruno Michel on F1’s ‘exceptional’ rookie intake and why Ollie Bearman’s super-sub showing was so vital

Of the 20 drivers on the 2025 Formula 1 grid, 16 of them competed in F2/F3 (or GP2/GP3 as they used to be known) en route to their F1 seat.

Over a third of those drivers have graduated in the past six months, but everyone progressed through the ranks under the watchful eye of F2 and F3 CEO Bruno Michel.

BEYOND THE GRID: F2 and F3 CEO Bruno Michel on steering young drivers to F1 and why Hamilton and Leclerc stood out

Having overseen the careers, and witnessed the rise, of multiple drivers as they moved into F1, Michel believes the role of a junior driver and how they are utilised by F1 teams has evolved in recent years.

That has helped lead to the current crop of exciting talent making their full-time debuts in 2025, with six rookies about to embark on their first season in F1 (Kimi Antonelli, Oliver Bearman, Gabriel Bortoleto, Jack Doohan, Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson).

BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN - FEBRUARY 27: Jack Doohan of Australia and Alpine F1 looks on as Oliver Bearman — Ollie Bearman (left), Jack Doohan (middle), and Gabriel Bortoleto (right) are just three of the rookie drivers preparing for their first full F1 campaigns

“The fact is that the Formula 1 grid had not changed for quite a long time,” Michel explains.

“Over the past few years, Logan Sargeant was the only one that got to F1. It was quite stiff competition these younger drivers faced from the ones on the Formula 1 grid already.

“Now, we have had quite an exceptional generation come through. You can go one by one through the drivers, but I think each of them has done a proper job in their preparation, even if they’re at different stages of their careers.

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“The level of the Championship last year was massive. We had the fantastic fight on track between Isack Hadjar and Gabriel Bortoleto, right to the last race. These guys were so strong. Red Bull trust Hadjar and now Bortoleto will be with Sauber, and it’s fully deserved.

“I think Bortoleto is going to be fantastic. He won F3 as a rookie, won F2 as a rookie, so that’s a good sign. I think that’s also changed the perception of F2 drivers, and I’m incredibly happy because of that.”

How the 2025 season rookies fared during Bahrain testing

'The most important thing is that they’ve been backed by these Formula 1 teams...'

While the drivers are inexperienced compared to their new rivals on the 2025 grid, most have been part of their respective teams for at least a full season already in one way or another.

Being able to hone their wheel-to-wheel skill, their understanding of tyre preservation and of optimising Qualifying in the junior championships has worked in tandem with their responsibilities as part of F1 driver academies.

Michel says that the combination has drastically cut down the lead time that rookies and young drivers need to adapt to a Formula 1 car.

“In F2, you have 12 operating staff, so it’s easy to understand what everybody’s doing. Then you arrive in an F1 garage, and you’ve got so many people working at a specific task, it can be quite intimidating and difficult. So, they’ve got to get used to that.

BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN - FEBRUARY 28: Isack Hadjar of France and Visa Cash App Racing Bulls prepares to — Isack Hadjar has been part of the Red Bull junior team since 2022, before his promotion to Racing Bulls

“The most important thing is that they’ve been backed by these Formula 1 teams and are part of their academies. They’ve been a part of these teams for several years, and that’s helped them get ready. At the same time, they’re fighting and refining in F3 and then F2, and they have to obtain results.

“The five drivers who came from F2 over the last two years, and if we count Liam Lawson who will be going into his first full F1 season too, six over the last three years have come through F2.

“They have the work with the F1 teams. They’re reserve drivers at some races so they’re in the garage, or doing FP1 sessions, or on the headset all weekend understanding how the team works.

“They’re in the briefings, working hard back at base on the simulator, and all these things that get them used to how an F1 team works. It’s a combination of all these factors that made last year such an outstanding year for drivers.”

BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN - FEBRUARY 28: Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy driving the (12) Mercedes AMG — Kimi Antonelli has graduated to F1 with Mercedes, taking the seat vacated by Lewis Hamilton

The importance of Ollie Bearman's super-sub showing in Saudi Arabia

The increased number of young drivers knocking on the door has not only coincided with available seats, but a desire and willingness from Formula 1 teams to place their trust in youth over experience.

As the budget cap era continues to promote a model of efficiency from the teams, finding new avenues and gains in performance is crucial.

With the competitiveness of each team continuing to close up and each tenth of a second ever more precious, Michel believes teams have started to change their approach with their line-ups, as risk-taking in the driver market has become more favourable.

“For quite a long time, the teams in F1 were a bit reluctant in taking on rookies because of the value of each position in the [Teams'] Championship in terms of prize money,” Michel explained.

“That image changed a lot last year. I think the one moment that impacted things the most was Ollie Bearman and what he did in Jeddah. Suddenly, people saw an F2 driver getting the drive out of the blue and going right into Qualifying – he still did a great weekend. He was fast, he was consistent, and he didn’t make a mistake.

I think the one moment that impacted things the most was Ollie Bearman and what he did in Jeddah. Suddenly, people saw an F2 driver getting the drive out of the blue and going right into Qualifying – he still did a great weekend.
Bruno Michel

“Then you have the preparation that Antonelli went through, he was followed by Toto Wolff and Mercedes, and he was ready for that.

“Franco Colapinto was the same with Williams at the beginning of his stint, he was on the pace immediately. The F1 teams realised that these guys were ready, and they could trust them.”

Inside Story: Bearman's stellar F1 debut

The top talent always makes it

Throughout his experience overseeing junior single seater racing programmes and the running of the two categories directly below F1, Michel believes that the landscape has evolved but one crucial factor remains the same.

F1 young driver programmes may have taken on a different dimension in recent years, but he says the best talent will always find a route through to the very top. It’s up to each driver to make their impact and force teams to take notice of them as they race through the feeder championships.

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“In my personal experience in this business, and I’ve been here for quite a long time, when you have a driver that is really outstanding – Fernando Alonso or Lewis Hamilton – you’ll always find someone to help them," he explains.

“I’ve never seen a driver who was really outstanding not being able to make it to F2 or GP2 as it used to be. You can always argue that some drivers are good but didn’t make it, but I would say the truly outstanding drivers, I’ve never seen them not make it in my career.”