Immediate pressure on Hadjar: 'Excited, but also some anxiety at home'

After finishing second in the F2 championship last year, Isack Hadjar now graduates to Formula 1 with Racing Bulls, and will compete at his first Grand Prix in Australia. The young driver talked about anxiety ahead of his first full weekend in the competition.

Hadjar could previously drive during FP1 sessions for both Red Bull Racing and AlphaTauri, but in the 2025 season, he will make his full-time debut in Formula 1. He will team up with the experienced Yuki Tsunoda at Racing Bulls. Talking to L'Equipe, the young talent was asked about graduating to the competition, and whether that makes him relieved or is he afraid of not being up to the standards. He first nodded, and his press officer signalled to continue with the next question, but Hadjar then answered.

It's a bit of both worlds, he explained. "It's complicated to answer that because.... Yes, I am stressed, but I know what I am getting into in the meantime. I obviously feel a lot of pressure and at the same time I can't wait to get behind the wheel. At home, everyone is excited, but there is also some anxiety," the French-Algerian driver said.

Hadjar has now moved to Faenza, where the Racing Bulls team are based to help him improve quicker. He also explained he wants to be less fiery over the team radio, as at Campos Racing in F2, he was known for not mincing his word, and underlined he will change his behaviour heading into his first year in F1.

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