Last Updated on December 3 2025, 12:08 pm

Red Bull confirms Isack Hadjar for 2026: a new era begins – As rumoured in recent weeks, Red Bull has officially confirmed that Isack Hadjar will replace Yuki Tsunoda in the senior team for the 2026 Formula 1 season. The 21-year-old Frenchman, who impressed during his debut year with Racing Bulls, is now taking a major step into one of the most demanding roles in modern motorsport as Max Verstappen’s teammate.

Hadjar has risen rapidly through the ranks, currently sitting tenth in the Drivers’ standings with 51 points, a position highlighted by his memorable podium finish at the Dutch Grand Prix. He has quickly established himself as one of the most promising rookies of the season. His promotion is widely seen as a reward for his performance to date, as well as a strategic investment in Red Bull’s long-term future.

More driver trash talk in Qatar

 

A promising talent with shades of Verstappen

Among those most impressed is Franck Montagny, former Formula 1 driver and current commentator for the French TV channel Canal+, who believes that France “may have found its Verstappen”.

He is blunt in his assessment: “There’s nothing to criticise about his season; it was perfect. He was ready for Formula 1, both mentally and physically, and that’s rare.”

The comparison with Verstappen is not made lightly. Verstappen entered the sport at a young age, showed exceptional composure under pressure and had the rare ability to adapt instantly to new machinery. Montagny suggests that Hadjar exhibits similar traits: maturity beyond his years, natural speed and an instinctive feel for racing at the limit.

Crucially, Montagny also highlights the role of Hadjar’s upbringing. He credits Hadjar’s family, particularly his mother Randa, with helping him to stay grounded as he progressed through the junior categories. Managing young drivers who are thrust into the global spotlight so quickly is notoriously difficult, yet Hadjar’s entourage appears to have struck the right balance between ambition and stability. Montagny argues that this foundation is a key reason why the Frenchman is now ready for the next step.

McLaren’s bizarre reaction to Piastri after Qatar calamity

 

The Making of a New Red Bull Star

Hadjar’s move to the main Red Bull team is seen by many as the natural continuation of a long-term development plan. He is widely regarded as a “pure Red Bull product”, having been shaped by the young driver programme which is renowned for identifying and demanding the highest level of talent.

Montagny sees the promotion as fully deserved: “Everything has been well planned. It’s great that he’ll be there from 2026. France may have found its Verstappen.”

For Red Bull, nurturing an emerging driver who mirrors some of Verstappen’s early qualities could be invaluable, particularly given the significant regulatory changes approaching in 2026.

However, the comparison also sets expectations high. Verstappen’s dominance has defined an era, and any suggestion of a successor indicates Red Bull’s faith in Hadjar’s ability and his potential to shape the team’s competitive future.

Wolff slams Verstappen’s engineer “brainless” 

 

Continuity and confidence under Laurent Mekies

Hadjar will not be stepping into unfamiliar territory. He will be reunited with Laurent Mekies, who started the season as his team principal at Racing Bulls, before replacing Christian Horner at Red Bull in the summer.

Mekies is clear in his endorsement: “In his first season in F1, Isack has shown great maturity and proven to be a fast learner. More importantly, he has demonstrated the raw speed that is the number one quality in this sport”.

Raw speed is a trait for which Verstappen is renowned, and it is a trait that places Hadjar in a similar position.

Red Bull is preparing for a transformative period in 2026, with new regulations and the integration of Red Bull Ford Powertrains. Mekies believes that Hadjar is ready for this challenge, stating: “We believe that Isack can thrive alongside Max and achieve great things on the track.”

Vasseur blames Pirelli for abject Ferrari performance Qatar

 

A High-Pressure Opportunity

Hadjar now faces one of the toughest roles in Formula 1: driving alongside a triple world champion who has rarely been matched by his teammates. Yet Red Bull appears convinced that Hadjar has both the temperament and the potential to succeed.

If he can adapt quickly and demonstrate the consistency that has characterised Verstappen’s rise to fame, the Frenchman could well emerge as the next defining talent of his generation, perhaps even the “new Verstappen”, as Montagny believes he could become.

Italian report: Vasseur given just 5 GP in 2026 to turn Ferrari around

 

 

NEXT ARTICLE –  The madness of Red Bull’s 2026 driver choice

Red Bull have finally announced their driver line up for both F1 teams, and it’s bad news for Yuki Tsunod,a who will drop to the role of test and reserve driver for the Racing Bulls and Red Bull.

As was widely expected, Isack Hadjar has been promoted alongside Max Verstappen in the Red Bull car, while Liams Lawson retains his place and alongside him will be Dr. Helmut Marko’s ‘next Max Verstappen’ – Arvid Lindblad of British-Swedish nationality.

Tsunoda can consider himself a victim of circumstances, given he was initially slated to race for the Racing Bulls this season and his preseason preparation was in the VCARB-02 car.

 

Tsunoda treated poorly by Red Bull

He was then propelled alongside Verstappen at the third round of the year in Japan, his home race. But the Japanese driver has struggled to adapt to a very tricky RB21 and has scored the fewest points of any driver who has raced alongside the world champion.

Yet there have been mitigating circumstances which have hampered Yuki’s progress. As Red Bull scrambled to improve their ill handling car, it was Max Verstappen who would receive the upgrades first. Tsunoda would only be afforded the new parts sometimes two race weekends later.

Since the big floor upgrade in Monza, Yuki’s result have improved marginally with him even out qualifying his team mate in the recent Sprint in Qatar. Yet Dr. Marko has had his heart set on promoting Lindblad since the summer, with a Red Bull source saying today “this has been set in stone for months.”

Yet the huge question is whether Lindblad is ready for the huge step into Formula One given his single seater experience is minimal. Arvid was racing karts as few as just three years ago, and his single seater racing has been limited to F4 – the cars the F1 academy girls drive – before this year when he was catapulted straight into F2…READ MORE ON THIS STORY