Isack Hadjar has admitted to initial concerns about Red Bull's unstable second seat before his promotion to partner Max Verstappen in 2026, despite targeting it from the outset. The 21-year-old's rookie season with Racing Bulls—marked by 51 points, 12th in the championship, and a podium at the Dutch Grand Prix—earned him the Milton Keynes spot amid buzz including support from former Red Bull drivers.
Hadjar impressed in his 2025 F1 debut with Racing Bulls, highlighted by a podium at Zandvoort. Speaking to F1 after securing the Red Bull drive—previously backed by ex-teammates like Alex Albon and Sergio Perez—he revealed enjoying the pressure despite limited pre-season mileage and early stress.
'I was straight in the rhythm,' Hadjar said. 'I knew that if I did the job naturally, I would get the seat, the promotion.'
The move positions him alongside four-time champion Verstappen for 2026, a role marked by recent instability but aided by incoming regulation changes.
