23 Hottest F1 Drivers Who Are Sending Our Pulses Racing

While the Formula 1 weekends primarily revolve around the action on the racetrack, it's natural that the spotlight will also be on the F1 drivers. These guys are at the top of their game, and their remarkable dedication to training and fitness has also made them incredibly attractive. From McLaren star Lando Norris to Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, here are the drivers to watch in the upcoming season.

1. Andrea Kimi Antonelli 

Kimi Antonelli, the young talent Mercedes has been nurturing for years, is now poised to take the reins following Lewis Hamilton’s departure. His promotion to Formula 1 in 2025 was announced at the Italian Grand Prix in September, marking a pivotal moment in his career. After dominating the junior categories—winning the ADAC and Italian F4 titles in 2022 and the Formula Regional European Championship in 2023—Kimi skipped F3 altogether and made a bold move to F2 with PREMA this year.

2. Jack Doohan

Alpine is set to promote its reserve F1 driver, Jack Doohan, to a full-time race seat alongside Pierre Gasly for the 2025 Formula 1 season. The son of five-time grand prix motorcycling world champion Mick Doohan, Jack has been sharpening his skills as Alpine’s reserve driver since 2023 and has made a good impression in his outings in Canada and Silverstone as well as behind the scenes in his simulator work.

3. Oliver Bearman

Another young driver who’s expected to join the grid in the 2025 season is none other than Oliver Bearman. Oliver Bearman, who caught Ferrari’s eye with a standout performance at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, has secured a Haas seat for the 2025 Formula 1 season. Despite a modest F2 campaign with Prema this year, Bearman’s potential was undeniable, especially after stepping in for Carlos Sainz second round of the season. As he prepares for his F1 debut, Bearman will have six FP1 outings for Haas for the 2024 season.

4. Oscar Piastri

Born in Melbourne in 2001, the 23-year-old Australian driver has committed to McLaren after signing a multi-year contract with the team until the end of 2026. Taking over Daniel Ricciardo’s seat in McLaren in 2023, Oscar first began his racing career in remote control cars where he became a champion at the age of 9. He soon moved over to go-karts, where he made his conventional path to Formula 1. This season, the young driver is picking up pace on the grid, as he racks up 197 points and counting for McLaren.

5. Max Verstappen

Max Verstappen made waves in 2021 after winning his first World Driver Championship in Formula 1, and he continued to dominate the grid in 2022 when he took home the same title in his second year running. The soon-to-be 27-year-old, who is also known as the son of former Formula 1 driver Jos Verstappen, has shown his promising skills over the years and is expected to take on more podiums this season for the Red Bull racing team. Aside from his impressive racing record, the Belgian-Dutch driver also scores in the looks department with his chiselled feature and glistening blue eyes.

And did we mention that he’s also together with the ever-so-gorgeous Brazilian model (and daughter of three-time Formula 1 champion Nelson Piquet) Kelly Piquet? The two started dating at the end of 2020, and their relationship has continued to bloom ever since.

6. Lando Norris

What’s not to love about Lando Norris? He’s talented, good-looking, and one of the few drivers you should look out for this season. Having started his Formula 1 racing career in 2019 for McLaren, the soon-to-be 25-year-old has also signed a contract with McLaren till the end of 2026. In the 2024 season, he quickly climbed the ranks, securing multiple podium finishes and competing fiercely against the likes of Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc.

But aside from being an amazing driver, the young lad also has his own gaming and lifestyle brand, Quadrant, that combines his love for gaming, lifestyle, content and apparel. In an interview with BBC Sport, Lando shares, “Quadrant is something I’ve wanted to do for a long while. And while racing will be a focus and be a bigger passion than almost any other esports, Quadrant is hopefully going to be expanding into many other different categories of esports and games.”

It doesn’t end there. In fact, Lando has also dipped his toes into the racing kart industry of which he has opened LN Racing Kart by OTK Kart Group in 2021.

7. Charles Leclerc

Charles Leclerc first made his Formula 1 debut in 2016, but his good looks and charm easily win him a place in our hearts for every race. In an interview during Netflix's 'Drive To Survive', the racing driver shared that it was his dream to drive for the Scuderia Ferrari team.

After driving for Sauber in 2016, winning GP3 Series championship and the FIA Formula 2 Championship in 2017, Charles Leclerc joined Ferrari in 2019 where he now races alongside his teammate, Carlos Sainz, and has been excelling in the grid, having won second place in the 2022 Driver Standings.

8. Lewis Hamilton

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton announced earlier this year that he will be leaving Mercedes to join Ferrari in the 2025 season.

Aside from being one of the most recognisable Formula 1 drivers of all time, Lewis has also made a name for himself in the fashion industry after being seen in multiple fashion events including Paris Fashion Week, where he was spotted rubbing shoulders with other A-listers, including celebs like Zendaya, in 2022.

9. George Russell

The British Formula 1 driver first started racing for Formula 1 when he made his debut for Williams in 2019. However, George soon rose to success and recently joined Mercedes in 2022. Now, he drives alongside his teammate, seven-time world champion, Lewis Hamilton.

A dream come true for him and many of his supporters, George Russell took the world by storm after making a name for himself with his phenomenal performance at the Formula 1 Rolex Sakhir Grand Prix 2020 in a Mercedes car, when he replaced Lewis Hamilton when he tested positive for Covid-19. While the driver did not win the race due to unforeseen circumstances, he definitely made quite the impression and won the title of ‘Driver of the Day’ for the race. Though he was gutted to be placed in the ninth position, George Russell has definitely garnered the respect of many fans with his undying strive to fight to score some points for the team.

George Russell was also the 2018 FIA Formula 2 Champion for ART and the 2017 GP3 Series Champion.

10. Yuki Tsunoda

Yuki Tsunoda transitioned from competing in the Japanese Formula 4 championship to securing a Formula 1 seat with AlphaTauri in a span of slightly over three years. In fact, his arrival in Europe in 2019 was marked by a lack of familiarity with the racing circuits.

But after a slow start in Formula 3, followed by a hugely impressive debut in Formula 2, which saw him finish third in the championship and pick up three wins along the way, Yuki proved he had the speed and the race craft to force his way on to the Formula 1 grid. The racing driver and his previous AlphaTauri teammate, Piere Gasly, were lauded for their strong relationship as teammates. However, the two were separated when Pierre left the team to join Alpine in 2023. In 2024, Yuki races alongside his teammate, Daniel Ricciardo, for the Visa Cash App RB team, and has extended his contract till 2025, marking his fifth season at the Red Bull sister outfit.

11. Logan Sargeant

Logan Sargeant became Formula 1’s first American driver in almost eight years as he takes to the grid for the 2023 season. Finishing runner-up in UAE for Formula 4 and third in Formula 3, the rookie has plenty of potential still to be untapped. This also convinced Williams to add the youngster to their books as he reached Formula 2.

Unfortunately, following a string of disappointing performances, including a severe crash during free practice, Williams has decided to part ways with Logan Sargeant. His seat will be filled by promising F2 driver Franco Colapinto for the rest of the 2024 season.

12. Nico Hulkenberg

Nico Hulkenberg might not be the newest driver on the lineup but he’s back and he’s ready to conquer the grid this season. Driving for Haas in 2024, Nico was previously a reserve driver for the Aston Martin Formula 1 Team in 2022. While he may not be the youngest in the team, he has shown incredible strength and stamina as a midfield marauder for Williams, Force India, Sauber, Renault, Racing Point and Aston Martin during a career spanning back to 2010.

In the upcoming season, Nico will be leaving Haas at the end of the year to join Kick Sauber in 2025, as the team transitions into Audi’s works outfit.

13. Fernando Alonso

Fernando Alonso needs no introduction. A force to be reckoned with, the legend himself progressed to car racing at the age of 17, winning the Euro Open by Nissan in 1999 and was fourth in the International Formula 3000 Championship of 2000. He debuted in Formula 1 with Minardi in 2001 before joining Renault as a test driver in 2002. Fiercely competitive, the Spaniard has been dominating the grid in 2023 and 2024 in his Aston Martin seat, after he left his previous team, Alpine in 2022. He has also signed a contract with Aston Martin which will expire at the end of 2026.

14. Daniel Ricciardo

Hailing from the land down under, it’s pretty fair to describe Daniel Ricciardo as the funniest guy in Formula 1. If you’ve been keeping track of Netflix’s series, ‘Drive To Survive’, then you would probably know what we’re talking about.

And while he does know how to crack a few jokes, Daniel Ricciardo is also widely recognised for his impressive track record. The 35-year-old first made his debut in the 2011 British Grand Prix with the HRT team, before he moved on to Toro Rosso, Red Bull, and his current team McLaren.

But what’s Daniel famously known for you might ask? Well, it would have to be his infamous shoey podium celebration. Starting in 2016, the driver introduced the trend in Formula One in which he celebrated a podium finish at the German Grand Prix by drinking champagne from his shoe. Yes, you read that right. It’s pretty gross to some, but Daniel Ricciardo has kept the tradition alive ever since, and has also convinced many drivers who have stood beside him on the podium to participate in his shoey celebration including Mark Webber, Lewis Hamilton and his previous teammate, Lando Norris.

And while the Australian driver has been racing for Visa Cash App RB alongside Yuki Tsunoda, it remains uncertain that he’ll be staying in the team in 2025.

15. Sergio Perez

Sergio Perez, also nicknamed "Checo", is one of the boldest drivers on the track. Having moved to Red Bull Racing in 2021, the Mexican driver is hardworking and knows how to scale up the grid even when he's under immense pressure. In 2021, Sergio also managed to take his podium in Mexico delighting his home fans. He celebrated the momentous occasion alongside his teammate Max Verstappen and his family members.

The Mexican driver started with the Force India team in 2014 after a year with McLaren in 2013 and two years at Sauber from 2011 to 2012. In his Formula 1 career, Sergio has had multiple podium finishes, with a major win at the Formula 1 Rolex Sakhir Grand Prix 2020 where he came in first on the podium.

16. Carlos Sainz

The Spanish driver is a metador when it comes to racing. After having raced for McLaren where he replaced his childhood hero, Fernando Alonso, he moved on to the Scuderia Ferrari team, replacing Sebastian Vettel. However for the 2025 season, the driver will be replaced by Lewis Hamilton and has found a seat at Williams, where he will be driving alongside Alex Albon.

With some tenacity, drive and passion, Carlos Sainz definitely owns the game with his undying fighting spirit. In 2022, the driver came in fifth in Driver Standings and has generously contributed to the team’s 2022 Constructor Standings where they came in second behind Red Bull racing.

17. Valtteri Bottas

After making a name for himself as the ‘TikTok Legend’ on Mercedes’ socials in 2021, Valtteri Bottas has acquired a loyal following for his hilarious content on the team’s socials. While he does seem shy and reserved, Valtteri is fearless and isn’t afraid to push his limits on the track.

The driver who drove for Mercedes from 2017 to 2021, is now leading Alfa Romeo for this 2024 season, where he drives alongside his teammate Zhou Guanyu, who made his debut last year as the first Chinese Formula 1 driver.

18. Zhou Guanyu

Shanghai-born racer Zhou Guanyu attended his home city’s inaugural Grand Prix in 2004 at the age of five, but it wasn't long before he realised his passion for driving in a race car. With Fernando Alonso being his main inspiration, Zhou took on the challenge and set himself the ambitious goal of becoming his country’s first-ever Formula 1 racer. At the age of 12, he took his first step and moved to England with his family to pursue his motorsport ambitions. After multiple wins in Formula 2, Alfa Romeo Team Principal Fred Vasseur put his faith in Zhou and placed him in the Alfa Romeo team in 2022, where he is now driving alongside his teammate Valtteri Bottas.

19. Pierre Gasly

Pierre might only be 28, but we know it won’t take long before he starts winning our hearts at every track across the globe. While the French racing driver’s journey to Formula 1 was bumpy and sometimes tragic, especially during his time at Red Bull racing, he did pick himself up after returning to Toro Rosso, where he scored almost as many points as his teammate Kvyat managed over the entire year in 2019. Pierre then continued to stay driven and delivered more success to the renamed Scuderia AlphaTauri team in 2020 and was back on the podium and scored 110 of the squad’s 142 points in 2021.

After spending the bulk of his career with Red Bull’s sister team, AlphaTauri, the racing diver recently switched teams to join Alpine for the 2023 season, where he now races alongside fellow French teammate, Esteban Ocon.

20. Lance Stroll

The Canadian-born driver certainly makes hearts race with his captivating brown eyes and amazing racing abilities. The Aston Martin team driver achieved his first podium finish, a third place, at the 2017 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, and claimed another podium at the Formula 1 Rolex Sakhir Grand Prix 2020.

But if there's one thing that this driver doesn't have in common with the other drivers on the grid, it would have to be the fact that he has a wet weather predilection. The 24-year-old shares that he believes the wet weather conditions allow him to show more of his natural talent and he feels comfortable driving under such conditions. And while many might disagree, he has definitely proven to be a strong contender to keep an eye out for.

21. Alex Albon

After competing for Toro Rosso and Red Bull racing, Alexander Albon is now racing for Williams. The British-Thai racing driver first started racing at the age of eight, and has continuously participated in multiple races over the years before earning his seat in Toro Rosso, alongside Daniil Kvyat. During the second half of the season in 2020, Alex Albon then replaced Pierre Gasly in the Red Bull Racing Team, where he took his first podium finish at the 2020 Tuscan Grand Prix.

However, after two seasons in Formula 1, Alex was then demoted to a test and reserve driver role with Red Bull for 2021, of which his previous seat was taken over by Sergio Perez.

22. Esteban Ocon

Esteban Ocon first made his Formula 1 debut for Manor Racing in the 2016 Belgian Grand Prix, replacing Rio Haryanto. After proving his impressive driving skills, the French racing driver was then offered a seat for Force India the following year where he drove alongside his teammate Sergio Perez. However, after Lawrence Stroll, took over Force India midway in 2018, the team replaced him with Lance Stroll, of which Esteban then ended up as a reserve driver for Mercedes.

After a year of being on the sidelines, Esteban Ocon then managed to grab a race seat for 2020 with Renault, which has been renamed to Alpine in 2021. In 2025, the driver announced that he will be joining Haas, where he will be racing alongside his new teammate, Oliver Bearman.

23. Kevin Magnussen

Kevin Magnussen made a much-anticipated return to the Formula 1 grid this year, but sadly, his tenure will conclude at the end of the 2024 season. While he may be a second-generation Formula 1 driver – following his father, Jan, onto the grid – the talented driver, who is racing for Haas in 2024, has shown his promising abilities on the track with his meaty manoeuvres and elbows-out approach earning him a bad-boy reputation on the track.

This article was originally published on Her World.