Monday, December 29, 2025

Isack Hadjar ‘mentally ready’ and curious as Red Bull F1 promotion rumors swirl

Isack Hadjar Red Bull F1 promotion discussions have intensified, as the 20-year-old French rookie expressed interest in testing Red Bull’s challenging 2025 Formula One car, while making it clear his ambition remains to race for the senior team. After an impressive start to his F1 journey with Racing Bulls, speculation is mounting about whether Hadjar could be elevated to Red Bull, as teammate Yuki Tsunoda faces ongoing difficulties this season.

Speaking before the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, Hadjar admitted he has a strong desire to discover what it would be like to drive the RB21, Red Bull’s latest car that has proven problematic for even experienced racers. However, he recognizes the pace and intensity of the senior team, noting the increased expectations and pressures.

Red Bull has stated that Tsunoda is expected to remain with the squad through the 2025 season, despite his struggles to deliver consistent results. Hadjar acknowledged that, for now, remaining with Racing Bulls is likely the more practical choice, as he is consistently earning points and gaining vital experience. He reflected that while he cannot control every aspect of his career progression, staying put would allow for further growth.

“When I signed the contract with Red Bull four years ago, the goal was to get to Red Bull, so it hasn’t changed,”

—Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Driver

Isack Hadjar
Image of: Isack Hadjar

“It’s definitely interesting. I would obviously love to, out of curiosity, go and have a look for myself.”

—Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Driver

“At the moment, It’s not like I’m in total control; I’m scoring points every weekend,”

—Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Driver

“There’s still a lot to learn, so it makes more sense to stay where I’m at at the moment.”

—Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Driver

Mental Strength Tested Against Verstappen Challenge

Hadjar openly discussed the daunting prospect of partnering alongside Max Verstappen, the four-time world champion, acknowledging the significant challenge it presents. Mental resilience, according to Hadjar, is one of his greatest assets, but he was candid about his uncertainty in matching the racing skills of Verstappen at this stage of his career.

The team’s principal, Christian Horner, has previously described being Verstappen’s teammate as F1’s toughest assignment due to Verstappen’s rapid preparedness and ability to find his competitive rhythm early every race weekend. Hadjar echoed this sentiment, stressing the difficulty of keeping pace and the need to continually close the gap.

“That means you would start the weekend on the back foot all the time. He gets in the rhythm. He’s very explosive. He gets in the rhythm very fast. You always have to make up lap time and try to get there,”

—Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Driver

Responding to questions about his preparedness to face such a challenge, Hadjar said he feels confident mentally, describing this as his primary strength. However, he admitted that whether he possesses the same technical skills as Verstappen is an open question that remains to be answered through experience.

“Do I have Verstappen’s skills? I don’t know. I don’t know yet. That’s the thing.”

—Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Driver

What Lies Ahead for Hadjar and Red Bull

With growing discussion around Isack Hadjar’s potential Red Bull F1 promotion, the young Frenchman stands out as a poised and introspective prospect. By maintaining his focus with Racing Bulls, Hadjar aims to strengthen his capabilities, preparing for a chance with the senior team when the opportunity truly aligns with his readiness.

The story highlights the importance of patience and development for emerging talents in Formula One, as well as the significant expectations within the Red Bull organization. The coming months will determine if Hadjar transitions to the senior team or continues to mature within his current role, as both Red Bull and the F1 paddock monitor his progress closely at events like the British Grand Prix and beyond.

Our Reader’s Queries

Q. What happened with Hadjar?

A. Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko called Isack Hadjar’s emotional exit from the Australian Grand Prix “embarrassing.” Hadjar, a rookie for Racing Bulls, crashed during the formation lap. Because of the accident, he could not begin his first Formula 1 race.

Q. What did Anthony Hamilton say to Hadjar?

A. By the time Hadjar arrived for his required TV interviews on Sunday, he was still feeling emotional. He paused often as he tried to find the right words to say. Hadjar shared that Anthony told him to “keep your head high,” and he mentioned feeling thankful for this kind act.

Q. Is Hadjar family rich?

A. Heading Isack Hadjar’s family works in science, and they are not very wealthy. His father, Yassine Hadjar, used to work as a mechanic for karting.

Q. Why is Hadjar in pain?

A. Hadjar later shared that he felt pain because the seat belt strap was pressing against him while he was inside the car.