Jonas Leo
Isack Hadjar’s inaugural Formula 1 season with Racing Bulls in 2025 proved to be a pivotal year for the young Frenchman, culminating in a highly anticipated promotion to the senior Red Bull Racing team for the 2026 championship. His consistently strong performances, including a maiden podium finish, marked him as one of the standout rookies of the season, effectively fast-tracking his ascent within the Red Bull driver development program.
The 2026 Formula 1 driver roster offers a clear testament to Hadjar’s exceptional rookie year. Among the new crop of drivers, Hadjar distinguished himself by consistently extracting maximum performance from his Racing Bulls machinery. He regularly placed his car within the top 10 during qualifying sessions, averaging between ninth and tenth position, and crucially converted these strong grid slots into a steady stream of championship points throughout the season. While Mercedes’ highly-touted junior, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, also impressed, Hadjar’s consistent points-scoring placed him as the highest-achieving rookie from the competitive midfield batch.
Hadjar’s journey into Formula 1, however, did not begin without its immediate challenges. The opening race of the 2025 season, the Australian Grand Prix, saw a dramatic and unfortunate start for the then 21-year-old. On a damp formation lap, Hadjar famously spun off the track, an early setback that could have proven psychologically debilitating for a debutant. Images of a crestfallen Hadjar being consoled by Anthony Hamilton, father of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, underscored the raw emotion of the moment. Yet, this incident, rather than defining his season, served as an early test of character.
Demonstrating remarkable resilience, Hadjar bounced back with an immediate display of maturity and speed. Just two races later, at the Japanese Grand Prix, he secured an impressive eighth-place finish, signaling his rapid adaptation to the pinnacle of motorsport. This early points-scoring performance was not merely a relief but a clear indication of his underlying talent and mental fortitude, setting the tone for the remainder of his rookie campaign. The challenging Suzuka circuit, known for its demanding corners and high-speed sections, provided a robust platform for Hadjar to prove his mettle.
Related News :
- Piastri Rejects Allegations of McLaren Favouritism, Affirms Internal Equality Amidst Verstappen’s Criticism
- F1 Commission Defers Decision on Mandatory Two-Stop Races, Mandates Car Livery Coverage for 2026 Season
- Isack Hadjar Adopts ‘Clean Slate’ Approach for Pivotal Red Bull F1 Debut in 2026
- F1 2025 Qualifying Report: Teammate Battles Intensify Through Brazil GP Sprint
- Verstappen Offers Crucial Mentorship to Antonelli Amidst Mercedes Rookie’s Tumultuous F1 Season
A hallmark of Hadjar, shared by many of his peers in this emerging generation of F1 talent, is a compelling blend of innate self-belief coupled with an intense capacity for self-criticism and refreshing honesty. This was evident prior to his debut. When questioned by Motorsport.com in Brazil the previous year about his readiness for an F1 debut, Hadjar responded with a candid "No." He explained that without significant mileage during winter testing, a true assessment of his preparedness was impossible. However, his performances throughout 2025 provided an emphatic answer to that very question.
Hadjar’s season was further illuminated by his direct comparison with teammate Liam Lawson. Lawson, who had previously experienced a short-lived and challenging stint with the senior Red Bull team before being reassigned to Racing Bulls, was expected to be a benchmark for Hadjar. While Lawson had a brief "headstart" with Red Bull, his return to Racing Bulls following two difficult Grand Prix weekends saw Hadjar consistently outperform him. Hadjar notably out-qualified Lawson in 21 out of 27 sessions, including sprint events. This statistical advantage remained despite two mechanical issues affecting Lawson’s qualifying efforts, underscoring Hadjar’s superior raw speed and consistency over the season.
Throughout his junior formulae career, Hadjar had earned a reputation as something of a "hothead," occasionally exhibiting fiery temperament on track and over team radio. While he has publicly stated his efforts to manage this aspect of his personality – including a conscious effort to keep his finger off the radio button – moments of his incandescent nature occasionally surfaced during 2025. Nevertheless, these instances were largely overshadowed by his overall composure and consistent performance. He proved to be a stable and reliable pair of hands, showcasing the raw speed and race craft that strongly indicated a future Red Bull promotion.
A significant highlight of Hadjar’s season, and a moment that indelibly cemented his status as a rising star, was his maiden Formula 1 podium finish at the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort. This achievement, secured on one of the most challenging and atmospheric circuits on the calendar, was a pivotal moment not just for Hadjar but also for the Racing Bulls team, underscoring the potential within their driver lineup and the development of their chassis. The Zandvoort podium was a clear signal to the wider paddock and, crucially, to the Red Bull hierarchy, that Hadjar possessed the capacity to deliver under pressure and capitalize on opportunities.
Hadjar’s impressive trajectory directly intersected with the struggles faced by Yuki Tsunoda at the senior Red Bull team. Tsunoda’s 2025 season was marked by stagnation and an inability to find a consistent rhythm. A particularly costly incident at the Imola Grand Prix, involving a significant crash, derailed his campaign and appeared to trigger a chain of events that often left him off the pace and behind specification. Tsunoda’s enduring challenge to translate his undeniable natural talent into consistent results and points ultimately paved the way for Hadjar. As the season progressed, the likelihood of Hadjar’s promotion to Red Bull for 2026 transitioned from a mere possibility to an eventual inevitability.
The move to Red Bull Racing presents Hadjar with a new set of challenges, most notably the prospect of partnering with multiple world champion Max Verstappen. The question of whether Hadjar possesses the mental fortitude and consistent performance levels required to thrive alongside Verstappen, and to dispel Red Bull’s infamous "second seat syndrome" – a historical pattern of drivers struggling to match the team’s lead driver – remains to be seen. However, the impending 2026 regulation changes are widely viewed as a potential equalizer. These significant shifts in engine and aerodynamic regulations will provide the Milton Keynes-based squad with a fresh platform, potentially allowing for the development of a more adaptable and driveable car that could benefit both drivers equally.
Hadjar himself approaches the 2026 season with a pragmatic outlook. "I have no expectations at all because everyone is starting from scratch," Hadjar commented on the upcoming changes. "I’ve always competed in different cars, so I think I’m pretty decent at adapting. Because it’s a new regulation, the timing is ideal." This perspective suggests a focus on the opportunity presented by the regulatory reset, rather than being daunted by the prospect of directly comparing himself to Verstappen from the outset. His ability to adapt, honed through various junior categories, will be a crucial asset as all teams navigate the complexities of the new technical framework. The 2026 season will undoubtedly be a defining chapter in Isack Hadjar’s burgeoning Formula 1 career.
💬 Tinggalkan Komentar dengan Facebook
Author Profile
- Jonas Leo is a passionate motorsport journalist and lifelong Formula 1 enthusiast. With a sharp eye for race strategy and driver performance, he brings readers closer to the world of Grand Prix racing through in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive paddock insights. Jonas has covered everything from preseason testing to dramatic title deciders, capturing the emotion and precision that define modern F1. When he’s not tracking lap times or pit stop tactics, he enjoys exploring classic racing archives and writing about the evolution of F1 technology.
Latest entries
F1December 29, 2025Isack Hadjar’s Remarkable Rookie Campaign Secures Coveted Red Bull F1 Seat for 2026
F1December 29, 2025Lando Norris Crowns Nine-Year McLaren Journey, Citing Hamilton, Vettel, and Stoner’s Mentorship in Thrilling 2025 F1 Title Victory
F1December 29, 2025Oscar Piastri makes Boxing Day Test appearance as he reflects on “intense” 2025
F1December 29, 2025Charles Leclerc Establishes Undisputed Leadership at Ferrari Amidst a Disappointing 2025 Season, Prompting Concerns Over His Long-Term Patience
rifan muazin
Ali Akbar Rosady
arthur roy sitompul