Isack Hadjar, a driver for Red Bull Racing, has articulated a continued sense of pride when entering the team’s garage alongside Max Verstappen. This sentiment follows his promotion to the senior Red Bull squad for the current 2026 Formula 1 season.
The official announcement of Hadjar’s move to partner Verstappen was made on December 2, 2025. He replaced Yuki Tsunoda, who transitioned into a reserve driver role within the Red Bull family for the 2026 season.
Hadjar’s promotion came after an impressive rookie Formula 1 season in 2025 with Visa Cash App Racing Bulls, Red Bull’s sister team. During that year, he secured a maiden podium finish at the Dutch Grand Prix and consistently scored points in ten races.
Reflecting on his transition, Hadjar described his graduation from Racing Bulls to the main Red Bull team as a ‘culture shock’. However, he noted that his extensive history within the Red Bull junior programme made the overall shift feel natural.
The 21-year-old French driver acknowledges the significant challenge of competing directly against four-time World Champion Max Verstappen. Seven races into their partnership this season, Verstappen holds an 8-3 lead in qualifying wins over Hadjar.
Despite this benchmark, Hadjar views the opportunity as a ‘luxury’, not solely due to equipment and resources, but for the chance to learn directly from Verstappen’s knowledge and mindset. He emphasizes the immense value in competing side-by-side with such an accomplished driver.
The 2026 season introduces substantial technical regulation changes in Formula 1, alongside the debut of Red Bull Ford Powertrains. Hadjar’s consistent top-six finishes this season demonstrate his adaptation to these new elements and his contribution to Red Bull’s championship efforts.
Hadjar’s journey through the Red Bull Junior Team began in 2022, culminating in his Formula 1 debut in 2025. His progression included a strong performance in Formula 2, where he finished runner-up in 2024.
He has also stated that he feels less pressure this season compared to his rookie year, having proven his capabilities. Hadjar’s focus remains on translating his speed into consistent results and aiming for podium finishes.
