What happened the last time Formula 1 had six rookie drivers on the grid and where are they now?

Follow us on Google Discover

The unpredictable nature of the Formula 1 driver market has seen six new full-time drivers take to the grid for the 2025 season.

Sergio Perez’s exit from Red Bull has seen two of their junior drivers be afforded chances at the pinnacle of motorsport. Liam Lawson will replace the Mexican and partner Max Verstappen, while 2024 Formula 2 runner-up Isack Hadjar will join Racing Bulls.

F2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto has signed a multi-year deal with Sauber, while Jack Doohan finally gets his chance in F1 with Alpine. However, the Aussie is already under pressure after Alpine signed Franco Colapinto as their reserve driver for 2025.

PREMA teammates Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman will both move up to F1 with Mercedes and Haas respectively. The former replaces seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, while the latter has already made three appearances in the sport in 2024.

The 2025 season will mark the first time since 2010 that there were six new full-time drivers. Those six who made their debuts 15 years ago went on to have very different careers.

But who were those six rookies in 2010 and where are they now? F1 Oversteer takes a look at their careers.

Nico Hulkenberg

The only driver on this list who is still in F1 today, Nico Hulkenberg made his debut in F1 with Williams after winning the GP2 Series the year prior.

The German’s 2010 campaign was fairly inconsistent, finishing the year 14th in the standings with 22 points. Hulkenberg did have one moment of brilliance as he secured an unbelievable pole position in Sao Paulo – albeit he finished eighth in the race.

READ MORE: Sauber driver Nico Hulkenberg’s life outside F1 from wife to height

The 37-year-old was dropped by Williams at the end of the season, returning to F1 with Force India in 2012. He went on to race with Sauber and Renault before leaving the sport again in 2020.

After making substitute appearances with Racing Point in 2020 and Aston Martin in 2022, Hulkenberg returned to a full-time seat with Haas in 2023 where he spent two seasons. He returns to Sauber in 2025 alongside Bortoleto as he still searches for his maiden podium in F1.

Kamui Kobayashi

Kamui Kobayashi had two impressive outings with Toyota at the end of 2009 before he landed a full-time seat with BMW Sauber in 2010. The Japanese driver was the highest-placed rookie that year, finishing 12th in the standings with 32 points.

Kobayashi replicated his 12th place finish in 2011 and 2012 with Sauber, with the latter year producing his first and only podium in F1 at his home race at Suzuka in Japan. He left the team at the end of that year.

The 38-year-old returned to F1 in 2014 with backmarkers Caterham where he failed to score a point and left the sport for good at the end of the season after the team folded.

Since leaving F1, Kobayashi has gone on to have incredible success in the World Endurance Championship with Toyota. Serving as their team principal and as a driver, he has won two titles and 17 races.

Vitaly Petrov

Joining Renault in 2010, Vitaly Petrov became the first Russian driver to compete in F1. He finished between Kobayashi and Hulkenberg in the standings in 13th, scoring 27 points.

Like Kobayashi, Petrov scored one podium in F1, which came at the 2011 Australian Grand Prix with third. Petrov left Renault at the end of the season after finishing 10th in the standings and joined Caterham in 2012, failing to score points.

The Russian left F1 at the end of that season and moved into sportscar racing, competing in DTM, WEC and the European Le Mans series. He finished third at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2016 and 2019.

Following that season, Petrov has had a lengthy spell away from racing, but he set to return in the Middle East Trophy in the GT3 class, racing with SMP Racing.

Lucas di Grassi

Along with there being six new drivers in F1 in 2010, there were also three new teams, with Lotus, Virgin and Hispania all joining the grid. Virgin opted to sign rookie Lucas di Grassi for the season alongside former Toyota driver Timo Glock.

The duo struggled at the back with a desperately underdeveloped car. Di Grassi finished the year 24th with no points, registering a best finish of 14th in Malaysia.

The Brazilian’s F1 career came to an end after just one season, going on to serve as a Pirelli test driver from 2011-2013. He has since gone on to race in the likes of DTM, WEC and Formula E – he won the all-electric series in 2016/17.

At the age of 40, di Grassi still races to this day in Formula E, driving with Lola Yamaha ABT.

Bruno Senna

Hispania brought in two rookies to F1 in their debut season in 2010. One of them was Bruno Senna – the nephew of three-time champion Ayrton Senna.

Unfortunately, he could not reach the same heights as his uncle as like fellow compatriot di Grassi, Senna struggled at the back with poor machinery. He finished the 2010 season 23rd with zero points and nine retirements.

The 41-year-old left Hispania at the end of the year and joined Renault as Nick Heidfeld’s replacement midway through 2011, scoring two points at Monza. Senna moved to Williams in 2012 where he grabbed 31 points and finished 16th in the standings.

The Brazilian left F1 for good at the end of the year and went on to race in Formula E and WEC – winning the latter in the LMP2 class in 2017. He has not competed in a racing series since 2020.

Karun Chandhok

Senna’s teammate at Hispania in 2010 was Karun Chandhok – the second Indian F1 driver after Narain Karthikeyan.

Chandhok’s time in F1 was relatively short. He was dropped by Hispania 10 races into the 2010 season, and was replaced by Sakon Yamamoto and Christian Klien.

The 40-year-old made a one-off appearance with Lotus in 2011 at Hockenheim before leaving the sport for good. He went on to race in Formula E, WEC and the European Le Mans Series.

Retiring from racing in 2017, Chandhok can now be seen giving his analysis and opinion as a pundit on Sky Sports F1’s coverage.