Isack Hadjar, currently racing with Racing Bulls in Formula 1, appears to be the frontrunner for a Red Bull seat in 2026. The French driver’s strong credentials come amid the anticipation of new technical regulations that will reshape the sport, though questions remain about whether Hadjar will be ready to join a top team and partner Max Verstappen after just one F1 season.
New Regulations Create Opportunity for Fresh Talent
The regulation changes set for 2026 are expected to reset the competitive landscape across Formula 1. Hadjar believes this will be the ideal time to transition to Red Bull’s main lineup. Helmut Marko, Red Bull Motorsport advisor, agrees that the shift to ground-effect cars will demand a different style of driving and advanced technical understanding. Marko remarked,
“Of course. These ground-effect cars are very special. And through the new regulations, it will be a completely new sort of driving. You have to use a lot of your brain for the recovery system and so on. So I think it’s a good time for a movement.”
This perspective highlights how Red Bull’s leadership is contemplating the team’s future roster and places Hadjar in favorable consideration.
However, Marko also emphasized that there is no urgency to finalize the lineup soon, suggesting the late-October Mexican Grand Prix remains an appropriate benchmark for key decisions. Despite speculation in the media, this timeline is expected to hold firm.
Areas Where Hadjar Can Strengthen His Performance
Although Hadjar shows confidence, he acknowledges that further development is necessary, especially in technical knowledge to better assist his team with vehicle feedback. He stated,
“From an engineering point of view, it can maybe still get better. It’s just such a technical world, I would say. As a rookie, that’s where I’m learning the most. Not really driving the car, because I know how to do it.”
In terms of driving skills, Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane has identified qualifying as a key area for improvement. Permane explained,
“Of course, he’s working on all areas and what he can do better. If I had to mention one area he could do better on, it’s maybe qualifying.”
Permane points out that although Hadjar has shown remarkable qualifying performances—such as securing fourth on the grid at Zandvoort—he sometimes struggles to consistently deliver his best laps under pressure.
“I don’t say that as a negative. I think when he gets it right, we see what he can do – in Zandvoort, he put the car fourth on the grid. He was heading for a similar result in Budapest and didn’t quite get it right, he got caught out by the wind. There’s a couple of times – which is completely understandable in a rookie season – where he didn’t put that final lap together when he was in that final session and the pressure’s there. So if I had one thing he could do slightly better, I guess it’s some qualifying consistency.”
Confidence in Hadjar’s Ongoing Development
Marko remains confident that Hadjar’s progress will continue steadily as he gains more experience. He noted,
“Hadjar has only driven 16 grands prix or so by now, and he’s still learning. And he has a very good relationship with his engineer [Pierre Hamelin]. He’s also French, maybe that helps. But he just has to keep going and developing like he is doing right now.”
This relationship with engineer Pierre Hamelin appears to support Hadjar’s technical learning curve and adaptation within the highly competitive Red Bull environment.
Looking ahead, the impending regulatory changes and Hadjar’s current trajectory suggest that 2026 could be a pivotal year not only for the French rookie but also for Red Bull’s driver lineup. Hadjar’s ability to refine his technical feedback and maintain consistency under pressure will be crucial to securing the challenging second seat alongside Max Verstappen on a team striving to maintain its dominance.
