French rookie Isack Hadjar has quickly established himself as a top contender for a seat at Red Bull Racing in the 2026 Formula 1 season and has opened up about being Max Verstappen’s future team-mate. Hadjar’s debut campaign with Racing Bulls saw eight points, with a podium finish at Zandvoort the highlight.
That consistency, combined with the challenges faced by Liam Lawson at the start of the season and Yuki Tsunoda, put Hadjar firmly in the frame for the senior team. The Frenchman openly discussed the challenge and opportunity of joining Red Bull alongside Verstappen and acknowledged the competitive standard set by the reigning world champion.
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Having replaced Liam Lawson and outscored Yuki Tsunoda in several races, Hadjar’s upward trajectory has not gone unnoticed within the Red Bull organization. He emphasized that his goal in F1 is to compete with the best, not just participate for experience or money.
“It’s a dream. That’s why I’m in Formula 1. It’s not just being there and driving, making money and going home,” Hadjar said.
“I’m not here for that, I’m here to fight against the best and show myself what I can do. When you have Max as a teammate, I don’t think there’s a better reference.”
“It’s definitely a little scary, but at the same time, it makes me really excited to be his teammate one day.
Strategically, Hadjar’s focus for the rest of the season is to maximize consistency and capitalize on opportunities for further podium finishes. He realizes that strong displays in the final races could boost his candidacy, especially if he can deliver another breakthrough result.
“If there’s one more weekend to change it, then I have to perform well,” he said.
“Honestly, I don’t regret what I did this year and I don’t think one weekend will change the decision, other than finishing on the podium or winning the race.
“I’m happy with the season. I’ll keep pushing and try to put this car in the top 10 this time.”
The rise of Hadjar comes at a critical time for Red Bull as the team looks to shape its future line-up.
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Published on:
October 24, 2025
