Isack Hadjar has secured his Red Bull promotion following an exceptional rookie season in Formula 1, stepping into the high-pressure environment that comes with joining the senior team. After a close contest for the 2024 Formula 2 title and a remarkable first year in F1, Hadjar’s consistent performances made him a standout, leading to his elevation for the upcoming season.
Establishing Himself in Formula 1
Emerging from F2 with strong results, Isack Hadjar wasted little time making his presence felt in Formula 1, where many regarded him as the rookie of the year. Nicknamed “petit-Prost”—the ‘little Professor’—within the Racing Bulls organization, comparisons with four-time world champion Alain Prost grew, not just for shared nationality and stature but for an analytical, introspective approach to racing.
Team principal Alan Permane highlighted this aspect, saying,
“He really hit the ground running and surprised us,”
—Alan Permane, Racing Bulls Team Principal. Hadjar’s pre-season preparation was cited as a key factor, as Permane added,
“He was very smart. There was a big pre-season, it was one-and-a-half days testing, each driver, and he just spent his time learning, understanding the car. Didn’t hit any headline numbers, just got on with it.”
—Alan Permane, Racing Bulls Team Principal.
Key Results and Rapid Development
Due to his careful groundwork and measured approach, Hadjar was the first to score points for Racing Bulls that season, notching eighth place in Japan and following up with a strong finish in Saudi Arabia. As the championship shifted to European circuits, Hadjar found his rhythm, regularly competing in the midfield and delivering a prominent third place at the Dutch Grand Prix. These results helped suppress any early doubts that arose after a spin led to retirement on the warmup lap at the Australian Grand Prix—an incident Permane downplayed:
Image of: Isack Hadjar
“The Australia thing was just an unfortunate thing,”
—Alan Permane, Racing Bulls Team Principal.
Permane further contextualized,
“Carlos [Sainz] did the same thing. Okay, he did it under Safety Car a couple of laps later, but it was, it was treacherous, and it was just that, in no way reflects where Isack was as a driver.”
—Alan Permane, Racing Bulls Team Principal. Bolstered by these positive performances, Hadjar applied pressure on teammate Liam Lawson, who returned to Racing Bulls after just a brief stint at the senior Red Bull outfit. Lawson, recovering from morale challenges and a lack of pre-season experience with the VCARB02, gradually regained his competitive edge, but it was Hadjar who dominated the points haul—amassing 51 by season’s end and contributing greatly to Racing Bulls finishing sixth in the Constructors’ Championship, a rare achievement in the team’s four-decade history.
Earned Promotion and Recognition from Red Bull
Hadjar’s breakthrough year, marked by both performance and approach, garnered attention at the highest levels within the Red Bull organization. His readiness to take on new challenges and continue improving led to his selection to replace Yuki Tsunoda at the senior Red Bull team for the following season. This move signaled a significant endorsement of his skillset and professionalism after only a single F1 season.
Despite the daunting prospect of facing some of the best drivers in the world, Hadjar showed a realistic understanding of his new environment. He told the gathered media,
“If anything, the goal is to accept that I’m going to be slower the first month,”
—Isack Hadjar, Racing Driver. Acknowledging the likely difficulties ahead, he outlined his mindset:
“Everyone thinks they’re special. Coming in like: ‘He’s a human, I’m gonna beat him,’”
—Isack Hadjar, Racing Driver, and
“Of course, I’m hoping to be as fast as him. I’m hoping, but realistically, it’s very little chance.”
—Isack Hadjar, Racing Driver.
A Rational and Driven Competitor
Hadjar’s response to setbacks and his quest for constant improvement reflect a unique character noted by his team boss. Alan Permane, who closely supported Hadjar throughout his rookie campaign, offered insight into his methods,
“Quite often you’ll get drivers so the first thing they’ll do when it’s not going right is, must be the car,”
—Alan Permane, Racing Bulls Team Principal. Permane described Hadjar’s self-critical approach as a significant strength, concluding,
“There’s no doubt. Isack is definitely a talent for the future.”
—Alan Permane, Racing Bulls Team Principal.
His analytical style, akin to Alain Prost’s, and an ability to push both himself and his engineers toward maximum performance, set Hadjar apart even among elite company. This mindset, combined with a willingness to accept the steep learning curve that comes with the Red Bull seat, marks him out as a promising figure in contemporary Formula 1.
Anticipation and Potential for the New Season
As the next Formula 1 season approaches, expectations are high for Isack Hadjar’s debut with Red Bull. The experiences of his rookie campaign—demonstrated in both his results and his reflective attitude—position him well to handle one of the sport’s most demanding challenges. Observers will watch closely to see how Hadjar adapts within a senior team alongside top-tier competitors like Max Verstappen. With continued support from the organization and the lessons learned during his year at Racing Bulls, Hadjar’s journey in Formula 1 is poised for its most significant chapter yet.
