Isack Hadjar Red Bull 2026 combination will define one of the most scrutinized partnerships on the Formula 1 grid, as the French driver takes over from Yuki Tsunoda to race alongside reigning champion Max Verstappen at Red Bull Racing for the 2026 season. Facing immense expectations and the legacy of Verstappen’s dominance, Hadjar steps into a role marked by both opportunity and daunting precedent at the team’s Milton Keynes base.
Red Bull’s Revolving Second Seat and Verstappen’s Dominance
Since Daniel Ricciardo’s departure at the end of 2018, Red Bull has cycled through a series of teammates for Verstappen, searching for someone able to withstand the pressure and deliver results. Names including Daniil Kvyat, Pierre Gasly, Alexander Albon, Sergio Perez, Liam Lawson, and most recently Yuki Tsunoda, all struggled to match Verstappen’s relentless pace and consistency. As a result, Verstappen has contributed nearly 70 percent of Red Bull’s total championship points, with that figure climbing as high as 93 percent in 2025 alone.
During that period, Red Bull celebrated 80 race victories—71 of which belonged to Verstappen. Meanwhile, Perez picked up just five wins and Ricciardo claimed four. In 2025, Verstappen out-qualified both Lawson and Tsunoda by a combined 28-1, while maintaining an overwhelming edge over Perez the year prior. The team’s internal structure has centered around Verstappen’s strengths, reinforcing the message that the second Red Bull seat is rarely on equal footing.
Expert Opinions: The Mental Challenge Ahead for Hadjar
Discussing Isack Hadjar’s prospects as Verstappen’s teammate, former F1 world champion Damon Hill offered a blunt forecast during a conversation with Johnny Herbert on the ‘Stay On Track’ podcast. Hill pointed to both the psychological and practical hurdles of being cast as the second driver at Red Bull.
“He’s sort of going to be the whipping boy for the team, isn’t he? The best he can do is a pat on the head from Max isn’t it and the team sort of going, ‘You did all you could.’ I think he’s going to have to accept that in that team, Max rules, and he’s there as a supporting act. And it’s whether you can get your head around that as a competitor.”
– Damon Hill, Former F1 World Champion
Hill further pressed the significance of mindset for Hadjar, questioning whether accepting a supportive role is compatible with the drive required for future championship ambitions.
“Are you world championship material if you can accept coming number two? If he’s going to go and do this job at Red Bull, he’s going to have to say, ‘Okay, I’m here to strengthen myself, to learn, in order to be number one at some point somewhere.”
– Damon Hill, Former F1 World Champion
Hill also addressed Hadjar’s personality, describing it as a positive for integration with the team, a point Johnny Herbert echoed by referencing the value in drivers prepared to question the status quo in a Verstappen-centric environment.
“What you’re talking about is his personality is a factor. You’re saying Isack Hadjar’s personality is engaging. I think the teams like to work with someone like that. He’s not a quiet little mouse. He’s expressive without being abusive.”
– Damon Hill, Former F1 World Champion
Promising Rookie Season Sets Stage for 2026 Opportunity
Red Bull’s faith in Hadjar comes off the back of a promising rookie campaign in 2025. After an initial setback with a formation-lap crash on debut in Australia, he rebounded by finishing in the points 11 times over the next 23 races and achieved a podium appearance at Zandvoort. His ability to deliver consistent results despite early adversity convinced Red Bull’s management of his potential as the next rising prospect.
Despite Hadjar’s achievements, the numbers underline the reality he faces. In 2025, Verstappen collected 421 points to Tsunoda’s 30, while Perez’s weakest year alongside Verstappen still added up to 140 points. Red Bull’s culture of swift driver changes and strong focus on its leading driver means pressure is always high on anyone pairing with Verstappen.
Hadjar’s Perspective: Embracing the Learning Curve
Isack Hadjar has openly acknowledged the immense challenge of joining Red Bull as Verstappen’s teammate. Stepping in as the ninth driver to occupy the seat next to Verstappen in as many years, Hadjar understands the rapid pace at which young prospects are cycled in and out when results lag behind.
“If anything the goal is to accept that I’m going to be slower for the first months. If you go into that mindset, you accept already it’s going to be very tough. Looking at the data and seeing things you can’t achieve yet, it’s going to be very frustrating. If you know this in advance, then you’re more prepared.”
– Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing Driver
He further remarked that previous teammates to Verstappen may have faced difficulties partly because of inflated expectations, emphasizing the importance of recognizing the world champion’s unique abilities early on.
“Everyone thinks they are special. You come in and think, ‘He’s a human, I’m going to beat him.’ And then you get stomped on. Then the snowball effect starts. We’re talking about the best driver on the grid, so the chance that I’m slower at the start of the year is very high. Might as well accept it now and just work towards getting there,”
he added.
New Era, New Challenges: 2026 Technical Shakeup
The arrival of new 2026 regulations and Red Bull’s first in-house power unit, developed in partnership with Ford, will serve as a reset point for both Hadjar and Verstappen. This technical overhaul offers a level playing field where every driver will face steep learning curves, providing Hadjar with a rare opportunity to adapt alongside his celebrated teammate, rather than falling behind established norms.
As Red Bull prepares for this fresh chapter, all eyes will be on whether Isack Hadjar can withstand the demands of facing Verstappen head-on while carving a future for himself in one of Formula 1’s most scrutinized seats. For Hadjar, acceptance and adaptation may be the keys to surviving, and thriving, at Red Bull in 2026 and beyond.
