Marko sees Hadjar as a credible future teammate for Verstappen – Red Bull are already planning their driver line-up for the 2026 season, and Helmut Marko has publicly named Isack Hadjar as a potential partner for Max Verstappen. According to Marko, Hadjar possesses the mental strength required to cope with the pressure of racing alongside a four-time world champion.
Hadjar, who is only 20 years old, is one of three drivers under review at Milton Keynes. The other names in contention are Liam Lawson, who is seeking a proper return to Formula One, and Yuki Tsunoda, the current Racing Bulls driver whose inconsistent performances this year have damaged his chances. With Tsunoda struggling to convert his opportunities into results, the momentum appears to be shifting towards Red Bull’s latest young prospect.
Isack Hadjar’s rookie season
Hadjar’s rookie campaign has been one of the more compelling narratives of the year. Thrust into the Racing Bulls seat, he has immediately displayed the composure and consistency that are often lacking in drivers during their first exposure to Formula One.
His maiden podium has already strengthened his reputation, but what is perhaps more important is the way he has maintained a steady rhythm of scoring points against far more experienced rivals.
This record contrasts starkly with Tsunoda’s current performance. After thirteen rounds, the Japanese driver has accumulated only nine points, raising questions about his long-term prospects. Initially tasked with stepping up following Lawson’s abrupt removal from the cockpit, Tsunoda has failed to deliver the kind of consistency expected of a driver entering his fourth full campaign at this level.
Red Bull’s commitment to its driver pool
Marko has repeatedly emphasised Red Bull’s commitment to promoting talent from within its own academy. For over twenty years, the Red Bull Junior Team has formed the basis of its Formula One strategy, producing both champions and race winners. The philosophy remains intact: the first option for future seats is always to consider drivers from within the academy, unless an exceptional talent emerges from outside.
Hadjar fits the mould perfectly. His success in Formula 2 marked him out as a star in the making, and his seamless transition to Formula 1 confirms that he is ready to compete at the highest level. Nevertheless, there is no rush to make an immediate decision. Red Bull may yet decide to give him another season’s experience before exposing him to the unique challenge of partnering with Verstappen.
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Lawson’s lingering opportunity
The case of Liam Lawson remains unresolved. The New Zealander’s brief appearance as Verstappen’s team mate was short lived.
Many observers were surprised when he was dropped so abruptly, a decision consistent with the ruthless culture that has long defined Red Bull’s management style.
However, with Laurent Mekies now in charge of Red Bull Racing, the door may not be fully closed for Lawson. The Frenchman may be tempted to reconsider Lawson’s candidacy, particularly if Tsunoda continues to underperform.
The importance of mental resilience
For Marko, mental strength is the defining quality that separates potential champions from fleeting hopefuls. It is a point he has made repeatedly, and in Hadjar he sees precisely that characteristic.
Speaking to the Kleine Zeitung, he praised the Frenchman’s temperament: “He certainly has the mental strength to stand up to Verstappen. He never blames the car, only himself. He doesn’t make mistakes, which is surprising for a rookie. He improves at each circuit, and after only a few laps he is fully involved, regardless of whether he has driven there before. He is a really fast driver who is coming through.”
It is telling that Marko placed so much emphasis on Hadjar’s psychology. Red Bull have seen many drivers falter when racing alongside Verstappen, which is a daunting prospect even for the most talented driver. The Austrian’s comments suggest that he believes Hadjar may finally be the one capable of coping with such an environment.
Tsunoda is under pressure.
Yuki Tsunoda’s situation grows more precarious with each passing weekend. Red Bull have been patient with him, granting him multiple seasons to refine his raw speed into consistent results. Yet the breakthrough has not arrived, and with Hülkenberg already exceeding expectations, the comparison does not reflect well on the Japanese driver.
The threat to Tsunoda’s place is therefore very real. If Red Bull decide to promote Hadjar in 2026, Racing Bulls will need a reliable teammate for Ricciardo or his successor. Lawson, or perhaps another young talent from within the system, would be the obvious choice.
Meanwhile, the rise of Arvid Lindblad
Marko also drew attention to the next generation, mentioning the 17-year-old British driver Arvid Lindblad. At just 17 years of age, Lindblad is regarded as one of the most promising drivers in the Red Bull academy. He is already competing in Formula 2 and is widely expected to make rapid progress through the ranks.
If Red Bull were to fast-track him, he could enter Formula One with Racing Bulls as early as 2026. This would reflect the approach that saw Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen enter the sport at a young age. Marko’s vision for the future is clear: Red Bull will continue to rely on its academy pipeline rather than recruiting externally.
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Strategic implications for 2026
The decision on Verstappen’s future teammate is about more than just filling a cockpit. It reflects Red Bull’s broader strategic planning for the next regulatory cycle, which begins in 2026. By then, the team will be entering a new era with its own Red Bull Powertrains engines, so stability in the driver line-up will be crucial.
Selecting Hadjar would demonstrate belief in youth and a commitment to investing in the academy. Selecting Lawson would acknowledge persistence and offer redemption. Sticking with Tsunoda would represent continuity; however, based on current evidence, this seems the least likely of the three options.
The verdict?
Red Bull has seldom been short of driver options, but this particular decision may be one of the most important of the Verstappen era. Max Verstappen will expect a teammate who can push the car to its limits without destabilising the team environment. Marko’s belief in Hülkenberg is a powerful endorsement, but the final decision will not be taken lightly.
The stage is therefore set for an intriguing contest over the next eighteen months. Hajjar has momentum, Lawson has unfinished business and Tsunoda is fighting for survival. The only certainty is that Red Bull will remain true to its philosophy of promoting from within.
Should Red Bull take the plunge with Hadjar or play it safe with Lawson before handing the keys to the Frenchman? Does Tsunoda have any realistic chance of saving his place?
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Thiago Treze is a Brazilian motorsport writer at TJ13 with a background in sports journalism and broadcast media, alongside an academic foundation in engineering with a focus on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). This combination of technical knowledge and editorial experience allows Thiago to approach Formula 1 from both a performance and narrative perspective.
At TJ13, Treze covers driver performance, career developments, and key storylines across the Formula 1 grid, while also analysing the technical factors that influence competitiveness. This includes aerodynamic development trends, simulation-driven design approaches, and the engineering decisions that shape race weekend outcomes.
His reporting bridges the gap between human performance and machine development, helping readers understand how driver execution and technical innovation interact in modern Formula 1. Coverage often connects on-track events with the underlying engineering philosophies that define each team’s approach.
With a global perspective shaped by both journalism and technical study, Thiago also focuses on Formula 1’s international reach and the different ways the sport is experienced across regions.
Treze has a particular interest in how Computational Fluid Dynamics and aerodynamic modelling contribute to car performance, offering accessible explanations of complex technical concepts within Formula 1.
