Isack Hadjar has spoken about the challenges he must overcome to dethrone Yuki Tsunoda and potentially partner Max Verstappen at Red Bull Racing in the future. The French driver, currently in his debut season with the Racing Bulls, remains a strong candidate for promotion within the Austrian team.
At just 20 years old, Hadjar has impressed many with his mental toughness, a quality regarded as essential for success at Red Bull, especially after recovering from a crash during the Australian Grand Prix season opener. His resilience and consistent performances have fueled speculation about him replacing Tsunoda, who has struggled to meet expectations since joining Red Bull.
Addressing what it would take to secure the seat alongside Verstappen, Hadjar remarked on the importance of clean, mistake-free driving to earn the team’s trust and deliver results.
“When I can be on top of it and not making any mistakes, then yeah, I can think,”
— Isack Hadjar
When asked if he dreams of racing alongside Verstappen, Hadjar modestly said he is focused on simply scoring points.
“I’m dreaming of scoring in the points.”
— Isack Hadjar
Despite the ongoing Formula 1 mid-season break, rumors linking Hadjar to a Red Bull seat persist. Meanwhile, Tsunoda has remained guarded regarding his future with the team amid mounting pressure.
Critical Viewpoint from Former F1 Driver on Tsunoda’s Performance
Robert Doornbos, a former Formula 1 driver and past Red Bull Racing competitor, offered a harsh assessment of Yuki Tsunoda’s tenure with the team. The 43-year-old described Tsunoda’s performances as the most disappointing he has witnessed from a Red Bull second driver.
Speaking to Motorsport, Doornbos expressed how Tsunoda’s results have been detrimental to the team’s overall progress.
“Yuki’s performance in the second seat is the worst performance ever in the history of the team – for a second driver. That is a very painful observation. I think Yuki is a great guy, and I also think he has shown really nice things in his very long F1 career. But at Red Bull, it is far from pretty what he does with that car. That’s just painful for the whole team. That does not deserve a seat for 2026. I think he realises that himself.”
— Robert Doornbos, Former F1 Driver
Tsunoda’s period at Red Bull has unfolded quite differently from expectations following his mid-season promotion before the Japanese Grand Prix. In 12 races with the team, he has finished in the points only twice, with his last points finish being 10th place at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
The widening gap between Tsunoda’s struggles and Hadjar’s promise highlights a growing tension within the Red Bull ranks. Hadjar’s combination of maturity and consistency could make him the preferred option to support Verstappen, especially as the team looks toward securing strong driver line-ups going into 2026 and beyond.
The ongoing discussions around Isack Hadjar dethroning Yuki Tsunoda reflect broader challenges Red Bull faces in balancing driver development with maintaining championship-winning performance. As the season proceeds, all eyes will remain on whether Hadjar can maintain his momentum and force a shift in the team’s driver hierarchy.
