Speaking ahead of the F1 Canadian GP, rookie driver Isack Hadjar admitted he’s “curious” about the challenge of stepping up to Red Bull and partnering Max Verstappen, but also recognised he’s not yet “ready” for that leap.
After the heartbreak of crashing out on the formation lap on his F1 debut in Australia, Hadjar has rebounded with a string of Q3 appearances and points finishes—including a standout fifth-place qualifying and sixth-place finish in Monaco. The French driver is currently ninth in the Drivers’ standings, with 21 points to his name heading into the weekend.
In recent years the second Red Bull seat has become something of a poisoned chalice. In the post-Daniel Ricciardo era, only Sergio Pérez has managed to occupy the seat for longer than two full seasons, taking over from Alex Albon in 2021 and exiting after the 2024 season, despite having already signed a contract extension that would have taken him through 2026. Liam Lawson lost his seat after just two race weekends, replaced by former Racing Bulls teammate Yuki Tsunoda earlier this season.
Despite the early hype, Tsunoda’s fate so far has mirrored that of his predecessors, his race weekends hampered by qualifying struggles and costly errors. With Tsunoda now facing difficulties, speculation has naturally begun to build over whether Hadjar could be next in line for a call-up.
Why Hadjar isn’t rushing a Red Bull promotion
Many promising drivers have seen their stock plummet after an underwhelming stint with the Red Bull team, struggling in a notoriously tricky car and lagging behind a superstar teammate. Hadjar understands that moving from a relatively forgiving Racing Bulls single-seater to one that demands precision and adaptability would be a massive challenge.
Asked about a potential Red Bull move on Thursday ahead of the F1 Canadian GP, Hadjar admitted, “It’s a bit scary. I wouldn’t feel ready.
“I’m just nine races in and [the RB21] looks to be complicated when you look at Yuki and Liam, who are very quality drivers, so no, I’m not very ready. But I would always be up for the call, that’s for sure.”
“I’m also curious,” Hadjar continued.
“I would like to know what’s going on. I’d love to have a taste of what’s the highest level like as well, there’s Max in the other car.
“At the same time, I’m just enjoying so much my time in F1 right now with Racing Bulls, it’s going well, and I’m just learning a lot for the future and getting ready for the call. That’s it.”
Former F1 champion-turned-pundit Nico Rosberg recently advised Hadjar to turn down a potential Red Bull call-up, for fear of him becoming another wasted—or at least bruised—talent. However, the specific nature of the link between Red Bull and its sister team might mean Hadjar won’t necessarily have a say in the matter.
Hadjar appeared to acknowledge that fact, saying, “It depends if I have the choice.
“I’m happy where I’m at, but at the same time as I said, very curious. I haven’t thought about it because it’s very unlikely to happen.”
