Isack Hadjar has expressed apprehension about potentially partnering with Max Verstappen in Formula 1 from 2026, as speculation grows over his promotion to Red Bull’s senior team. The French rookie has made a strong impression during his debut season at Racing Bulls, positioning himself as the prime candidate to join Verstappen.
Hadjar’s Rising Profile and Uncertain Future at Red Bull
After achieving a podium finish with third place at the Dutch Grand Prix, Hadjar continues to showcase his rapid rise, currently sitting ninth in the Drivers’ Championship. Despite a challenging start to his F1 career—crashing out on the formation lap of his debut race—he has recovered well and scored points in six additional races this season.
The decision on who will partner Max Verstappen in 2026 remains unresolved. Yuki Tsunoda, the more seasoned driver at Racing Bulls, has struggled to keep pace, accumulating only 12 points so far, a stark contrast to Verstappen’s 230 points this season. In comparison, even Sergio Perez, Verstappen’s previous teammate, was far closer to the Dutchman’s tally when he left the team last year.
Efforts to find Verstappen’s new teammate included testing rookie Liam Lawson and then Tsunoda, but neither has matched Hadjar’s impressive form this year. Meanwhile, early teasers from Hadjar’s upcoming interview on the Canal+ show ‘Clique’ intensify the view that he is poised for the promotion.
It scares me, but it’s also incredibly exciting!
Hadjar said about the possibility of teaming up with Verstappen.
Seeing myself team up with Max? Of course! And what a line-up!
At 20 years old, Hadjar acknowledged the difficulties of being Verstappen’s teammate, a role where many have struggled, but regards it as an opportunity not to be missed.
Of course, it’s early in my career, but I may have this opportunity,
he noted.
You give me the same car as the best driver in the world, and he’s right next to me. I have the opportunity to compare myself to him, and I have the same chances as him.
When questioned by presenter Mouloud Achour if his hints about joining Red Bull were spoilers, Hadjar replied,
You’re not really spoiling, it’s the trajectory. It’s written.
The Decision-Making Process Surrounding Red Bull’s 2026 Line-up
Sources close to the situation suggest Helmut Marko may have already informed Hadjar that his performance has secured him the seat alongside Verstappen, though other reports imply talks between them are not yet definitive. A formal agreement remains unsigned, and Hadjar must continue earning the confidence of Red Bull’s leadership beyond Marko’s endorsement.
A Red Bull spokesperson confirmed to PlanetF1.com,
No decisions on driver line-up have been finalised for 2026. Laurent [Mekies] has gone on record to say we will take our time and are in the very lucky position of having 4 seats to fill.
Red Bull management is methodical in their selection, balancing patience with the pressures of the upcoming season.
Comparing Hadjar and Tsunoda’s Performance This Season
Performance comparisons highlight stark contrasts between Hadjar and incumbent Yuki Tsunoda. Marko’s notable impatience regarding Tsunoda’s results was evident during the Italian Grand Prix weekend, with the advisor avoiding extensive commentary on the Japanese driver’s struggles.
Team principal Laurent Mekies, who has worked with both drivers at Racing Bulls, offered praise for Tsunoda’s recent progress, saying,
Yuki has been making a good step in the last three races,
We all want more, but he’s doing a good job. He was, for the first time, back in the points after seven races in Zandvoort. He was close enough to Max in Budapest and had his best qualifying with the team in Spa. So he’s on a positive trend.
Regarding Hadjar’s rapid development, Mekies remarked,
It’s obviously extremely nice to watch Isack’s progress in the Racing Bulls car. To see him performing at the level he did in the last race was a fantastic demonstration of how much progress he’s made this season.
However, Mekies emphasized that management values consistency over isolated results, noting the team’s intention to carefully consider decisions rather than rush based on single outcomes.
As much as we like the emotion of the race-by-race feeling, we have a feeling in Budapest, we have another feeling here,
Mekies stated.
The truth is, if you step back, look at it from a Red Bull perspective, it’s our drivers. We have them all under contract. It’s only us making the decisions, us meaning the Red Bull group. You know, why would you put yourself under pressure based on a result or another?
So, hence, the simple truth is that we will take our time. There are nine races to go.
Really, we are relaxed about the driver topic, because fundamentally we have all our cards on the Red Bull side, and we can take a few more weeks – or months – to decide. Of course, that doesn’t mean we have to wait until the last race to decide, because we respect that it might impact our drivers one way or another. But for sure, we feel we have time right now.
Implications for Tsunoda and Senior Team Prospects
Should Hadjar join Red Bull’s senior squad, it would almost certainly mark the end of Tsunoda’s Red Bull Formula 1 career, with limited hope for a return to Racing Bulls. Tsunoda’s future might lie at Aston Martin, leveraging his connections to Honda, which will become Aston Martin’s engine supplier from 2026.
In the event Hadjar moves up, Racing Bulls would likely promote Arvid Lindblad from Formula 2, alongside Liam Lawson, who has acclimated well after joining mid-season.
Discussions have also occurred with McLaren’s junior driver Alex Dunne, though these talks are understood to be early relationship-building rather than a concrete move for 2026.
What Comes Next for Hadjar and Red Bull
Isack Hadjar’s potential promotion to Red Bull’s senior team reflects his accelerated rise and the intense competition among Red Bull drivers. While his willingness to take on the challenge of partnering Max Verstappen reveals both excitement and caution, the final decision depends on ongoing assessments over the remaining races this year.
Red Bull’s measured approach underlines the significance they place on long-term driver development and team stability, ensuring they field the strongest possible line-up for the highly competitive seasons ahead.
