Isack Hadjar has emerged as one of the most promising newcomers of the 2025 Formula One season. Driving for Racing Bulls, the French rookie has stunned many observers with his consistently excellent performances, which far exceed expectations for a first-year driver. His success has inevitably led to speculation in the paddock that he is destined for a rapid promotion to the senior Red Bull Racing team, but Hadjar himself appears unmoved by the rumours.
Rumours have been circulating for several months, fuelled by his impressive on-track results and Red Bull’s ongoing struggle to find a reliable partner for Max Verstappen. Senior advisor Helmut Marko told German outlet Sport1 that a formal decision regarding Hadjar’s future could be made around the Mexico Grand Prix weekend at the end of October. For now, however, the 20-year-old insists that his focus remains firmly on driving rather than indulging in transfer gossip.
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Rising star with immediate impact
Hadjar’s entry into Formula One has been nothing short of remarkable. He scored points in only his third race, achieving an eighth-place finish, and has backed this up with a series of strong performances. His sixth-place finish in Monaco underlined his growing composure under pressure, while his podium finish at Zandvoort, where he crossed the line in third place, remains the defining moment of his young career to date.
Across the first 16 races of the campaign, Hadjar has built a reputation for both raw speed and an ability to keep his head where more experienced drivers have faltered. These results have inevitably placed him at the centre of Red Bull’s ongoing debate about who should partner Verstappen, as neither Sergio Pérez, Liam Lawson nor Yuki Tsunoda has managed to secure the role in recent seasons.
Hadjar: “I don’t care about the rumours…”
Despite the growing noise, Hadjar has made it clear that he does not wish to be drawn into speculation. Speaking ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend, he played down suggestions of a promotion and dismissed media questions about his next move. “I really don’t care,” he said bluntly. “The rumours don’t interest me, really. I’ve been home for five days now. I had other things to do than scroll through Instagram.”
The driver admitted that he has “an idea” of how his career may progress, but insisted that nothing has been finalised yet. His relaxed approach contrasts sharply with the frenzy among fans and journalists, who see him as the natural successor to Red Bull’s troubled second driver.
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Red Bull’s dilemma continues
Red Bull Racing’s struggle to find a stable partner for Verstappen is now well-documented. Since Daniel Ricciardo’s departure at the end of 2018, the seat has resembled something of a poisoned chalice: Both Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon found themselves overwhelmed, while Sergio Pérez initially looked the part before his form dipped dramatically. Yuki Tsunoda has never convinced senior management, and Lawson’s chances appear to have evaporated.
Against this backdrop, Hadjar is not just a talented youngster, but potentially the solution to a long-standing issue. If he continues to perform well in the final eight races of the season, Red Bull’s leadership will find it difficult to justify keeping him in the junior team for 2026.
There is also a curious irony in Hadjar telling reporters that he does not care while simultaneously acknowledging that he has ‘an idea’ of what lies ahead. This sounds like the classic driver tactic of pretending to be above it all while keeping a close eye on the fax machine waiting for the contract offer.
A rookie too good to ignore?
Hadjar’s impact this season has been so significant that Red Bull may have to make a decision sooner rather than later. He combines speed, consistency and a touch of bravado that fits the Red Bull mould perfectly. Unlike some of his predecessors, he does not appear daunted by the spotlight, and his performance on the podium in front of the passionate Zandvoort crowd proved that he has the temperament to handle major events.
For the senior team, the choice may come down to whether to take the plunge with another rookie or persist with more experienced, albeit less inspiring, options. Given the success of Verstappen’s rapid rise to fame, it would be in character for Red Bull to give Hadjar a chance.
The bigger picture
Hadjar’s story is part of a wider trend in Formula 1, where young drivers are increasingly expected to perform well from the outset. The days of easing rookies in gently appear to be over, with mounting pressure from sponsors, fans and team bosses alike. In that environment, Hadjar’s ability to thrive so quickly is both rare and valuable.
Yet Red Bull must balance opportunity with risk. The team cannot afford another failed experiment alongside Verstappen. While Hadjar’s talent is obvious, his lack of experience may prove problematic. Conversely, alternative candidates have previously been given opportunities and failed to deliver, leaving Red Bull with few inspiring options.
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Ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, George Russell withdrew from his Thursday media duties, with Mercedes confirming that their driver was unwell. The team issued a brief statement this morning, assuring fans that Russell would recover in time for Friday’s practice sessions at the Baku street circuit.
The English driver, now firmly established as Mercedes’ lead figure alongside rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli, has enjoyed a strong campaign so far in 2025. With six podiums already this year, including victory at the Canadian Grand Prix in June, Russell has challenged the top three: Max Verstappen in the Red Bull and the McLaren pairing of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.
His progress has been steady, and with the sport preparing for a major regulatory overhaul in 2026, he is expected to be the linchpin of Mercedes’ challenge next year.
Mercedes stress that Russell’s absence from media duties is precautionary and does not signal anything more serious. His workload in 2025 has indeed been immense, as he has had to balance an intense racing schedule with sponsor commitments and the natural expectation that comes with being the face of the team. However, the timing is interesting because Russell’s contractual situation has been hanging over him for months without resolution. This is where the first crack in the calm corporate…READ MORE ON THIS STORY
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