Formula One’s top five youngest points scorers
- Kavi Khandelwal
- 2 hours ago
- 6 min read
Written by Kavi Khandelwal, Edited by Marit Everett
From Max Verstappen’s teenage breakthrough to Arvid Lindblad’s 2026 debut at last week's Australian Grand Prix, F1’s youngest points scorers show how the sport’s future is arriving earlier than ever.
Formula One had been a sanctuary for the seasoned for decades. It was a sport that demanded a specific kind of veteran grit that was not easily found; the kind where the cockpit was reserved for those who had spent years climbing the lower rungs of the motorsport ladder.
The narrative had been simple: experience is the only currency that buys results in F1.
However, this narrative changed when a teenager shattered that logic. This teenager stormed onto the grid and snatched points before they were legally old enough to rent a car in the countries they raced. It does not take a genius to know who this teenager is.
Scoring points in modern F1 is the ultimate litmus test. With only the top-ten finishers receiving a reward, the margin for error is non-existent.
When a rookie breaks into that bracket, it does more than just add a digit to a tally; it sparks a frantic debate among pundits and fans alike. Is this the birth of a once-in-a-generation phenomenon, or is the pressure of such early exposure a weight that will eventually stall a promising career?
The history books have recently been rewritten by a new wave of talent that refuses to wait its turn. From the clinical dominance of Max Verstappen to the sudden, spotlight-shaking debuts of Oliver Bearman and Kimi Antonelli, Arvid Lindblad and Lance Stroll, these five drivers represent the absolute vanguard of youth.
Their journeys into the points vary wildly, some were years in the making, others were decided in a single weekend, but together they reveal how the sport is pivoting toward a future that arrives earlier every year.
Max Verstappen: The rule breaker
Verstappen did not just simply enter F1; he forced the sport to change its laws. When he debuted for Scuderia Toro Rosso in 2015, he was just 17 years old, having skipped Formula 2 entirely after a singular, blistering season in F3.
The promotion was so controversial that the FIA promptly introduced a minimum age of 18 for a Super Licence, ensuring Verstappen’s record as the youngest starter would likely never be broken.
While there was skepticism over Verstappen’s age and experience, it didn't last long. By the second race of the season in Malaysia, Verstappen silenced the critics. Navigating the sweltering heat of Sepang with the composure of a ten-year veteran, he crossed the line in seventh place.
At 17 years and 180 days, Verstappen became the youngest points scorer in history, a milestone that signaled the arrival of a disruptor who had no interest in the traditional hierarchy.
Today, that early promise has materialised into one of the most dominant eras the sport has ever seen. Now a multiple-time World Champion with Red Bull Racing, Verstappen has transitioned from a volatile “teenage sensation” to the benchmark for the entire grid.
His career serves as the ultimate proof that if the talent is extraordinary enough, the age on the passport is irrelevant.
Kimi Antonelli: The Silver Arrows’ heir
Antonelli has carried the weight of “the next big thing” since he was in karting. Backed by the Mercedes program, his climb through the junior categories was less of a ladder and more of a rocket ship.
Skipping F3 to jump straight into F2, Antonelli was fast-tracked with a singular goal: to prove he could handle the transition to the pinnacle of motorsport before he hit twenty.
When he finally got his opportunity to secure points in his rookie season, he did so with the clinical precision Mercedes is known for. By finishing fourth during his debut at the 2025 Australian Grand Prix, he cemented himself as the second-youngest driver to ever do so at just 18 years and 199 days.
The achievement was more than just mere points, it validated the years-long investment by Toto Wolff and the Brackley squad.
Antonelli is currently establishing himself as the cornerstone of Mercedes’ post-Hamilton era. As the sport moves into the new regulatory phase, the expectations surrounding him are astronomical.
Antonelli is more than just a talented rookie. He is being molded as a future championship contender, tasked with leading one of the most successful teams in history back to the summit.
Arvid Lindblad: The Red Bull prodigy
The Red Bull Junior Team is famous for its “sink or swim” philosophy, and Arvid Lindblad is the latest talent to prove he can tread water in the deep end.
Lindblad’s progression through the ranks was characterised by an aggressive, uncompromising style that caught the eye of Helmut Marko early on. His rapid ascent through F3 and F2 suggested a driver who was fundamentally bored by waiting for his turn.
The Briton’s entry into the points record books came at the season opener of 2026. Making his debut for Racing Bulls at the Australian Grand Prix, he secured an eighth-place finish.
At 18 years and 212 days old, he slotted in as the third-youngest points scorer in history, highlighting the efficiency of the Red Bull pipeline in finding raw speed and dropping it directly into the spotlight.
Currently, Lindblad stands as one of the brightest prospects in the Red Bull stable. In a team known for its high turnover, his early success has granted him a level of security rarely seen for someone so young.
A debut statement like this turns heads, but consistency is what earns a place in F1. The next chapter arrives quickly at the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix, where Lindblad will look to prove that this performance was only the beginning.
Lance Stroll: The prodigious debutant
Lance Stroll’s entry into F1 in 2017 with Williams Racing was met with immense media scrutiny. Entering the sport as a teenager after dominating the F3 European Championship, Stroll had to contend with the “pay driver” label while simultaneously learning one of the most complex machinery in motorsports.
The pressure was immense, and the learning curve was steep. However, Stroll found his footing on home soil. At the 2017 Canadian Grand Prix, in front of a roaring Montreal crowd, he drove a composed race to claim his first F1 points.
At 18 years and 225 days old, he became one of the youngest drivers to ever score, a feat he followed up shortly after with a podium in Baku, proving the “kid” had the hands to compete.
Years later, that early trajectory has largely leveled off into a narrative of unfulfilled potential. Now a long-term fixture at Aston Martin, Stroll’s career has been characterized by flashes of brilliance—particularly his prowess in wet weather—stifled by inconsistent form and, frequently, uncompetitive machinery.
While he has remained on the grid far longer than many of his peers, the leap from "youngest points scorer" to "consistent front-runner" has remained elusive, proving that even the most historic start can be stalled by the mechanical and mental grind of the midfield.
Oliver Bearman: The super sub
Bearman’s path to the record books was perhaps the most cinematic of the five. A member of the Ferrari Driver Academy, Bearman was in Saudi Arabia to compete in F2 when he received the call of a lifetime: Carlos Sainz was out with appendicitis, and Ferrari needed a substitute.
With only one practice session to prepare, the teenager was thrust into the most famous red seat in sports.
Bearman thrived at the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Fighting off seasoned veterans on one of the fastest and most dangerous street circuits in the world, he finished P7.
At 18 years and 305 days, he became the youngest driver to score points on debut for Ferrari, an achievement that instantly shifted his status from “prospect” to “star.”
However, while his debut was in Ferrari red, his career is currently being defined by his seat at Haas. Bearman signed to a multi-year deal after a series of standout substitute performances for the American squad in 2024, transitioning from a Maranello “reserve” to a foundational pillar for Haas.
In his first full seasons, he has proven he can lead a midfield team, famously outsourcing experienced teammates and extracting massive results. Even as he remains a key part of the broader Ferrari ecosystem, the young British driver is now firmly established as the face of the new-look Haas.
These five names represent a shift in the tectonic plates of F1. However, they also serve as a reminder that a record-breaking debut is only a single data point in a much longer story.
While scoring points at 18 was once considered a miracle, these drivers have proven that the modern junior academy system is producing athletes who are technically and mentally ready for the world stage earlier than before. However, as the varied careers of Verstappen, Stroll, Antonelli and Bearman show, hitting the scoresheet early is merely a spark.
