Hadjar is 'curious' about Red Bull: 'Verstappen is quite fast in that car'

10:50, 17 Jul

Updated: 13:29, 17 Jul

Co-author:Kada Sárközi

byTim Kraaij

Isack Hadjar is making an impression on the Red Bull management, and soon the focus shifts towards a potential move to Red Bull Racing. Does Hadjar feel ready for it?

Following Pierre Gasly, Alexander Albon, Liam Lawson, and Yuki Tsunoda, Isack Hadjar could very well be the next driver to get promoted from Racing Bulls to Red Bull Racing. Hadjar was not considered to be the biggest talent in the Red Bull junior programme, but the Frenchman has been impressive so far in his first season in Formula 1, mainly because of his consistent performance.

Whereas most rookies experience highs and lows, Hadjar seems to leave a strong impression almost every weekend. This season, he was outperformed in qualifying only on three occasions - once by Yuki Tsunoda and twice by Liam Lawson.

However, a switch to the senior team does not seem to be easy, as Gasly, Albon, Lawson, and now Tsunoda have all found it very tough alongside Max Verstappen. At the end of 2025, Red Bull will also part ways with Yuki Tsunoda, and a departure of Max Verstappen remains a possibility.

Does Hadjar want to move to Red Bull Racing?

"I don't know what's going on over there, obviously. But the only thing I can tell is that Yuki is very fast," Hadjar told GPblog among others about Tsunoda's disappointing results.

It does not deter Hadjar from making the move. "When I signed the contract with Red Bull four years ago, the goal was to get to Red Bull, so it hasn't changed."

When asked if he would have done better than Tsunoda now, Hadjar honestly says: "It's definitely interesting. I like to, obviously love to, out of curiosity, go and have a look for myself."

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Will Isack Hadjar move to Red Bull Racing in 2026?

Because that the RB21 is faster is a fact according to Hadjar. The comment was also made by Tsunoda before he moved to Red Bull Racing, but since then, the Racing Bulls drivers have both outscored the Japanese driver. Nevertheless, it must be the car, Hadjar also states.

"I think Max in the Red Bull is very fast. It's his car and he drives it to the absolute limit. It's a more efficient car in high-speed corners. It's a faster car but it's apparently hard to exploit most of it."

Hadjar has not yet had discussions with Red Bull about a move, he added. "At the moment I'm not doing... it's not like I'm in total control [and] I'm scoring points every weekend, there's still lots to learn so it makes more sense to stay where I'm at at the moment, that's for sure."