Isack Hadjar has teased that he knows where his Formula 1 future lies, amid admitting speculation of a promotion to Red Bull is “incredibly exciting.”
The Frenchman has excelled in his debut F1 season, and arrives at this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix ninth in the Drivers’ standings, via a myriad of superb performances.
Reports this week have suggested that Hadjar will be moved up from Racing Bulls, a move that would see him line up alongside four-time World Champion Max Verstappen when Red Bull embarks on its new partnership with Ford.
Hadjar’s performances have convinced many that he is ready to step up.
In an interview with Canal+ in France ahead of this weekend’s race in Baku, he addressed the growing talk of being paired with Verstappen, insisting he noise doesn’t bother him.
“It scares me, but it’s also incredibly exciting!” Hadjar admitted. “Seeing myself team up with Max? Of course! And what a line-up!
“Of course, it’s early in my career, but I may have this opportunity.
“You give me the same car as the best driver in the world, and he’s right next to me. I have the opportunity to compare myself to him, and I have the same chances as him.”
When asked if rumours of his promotion were essentially were ‘spoilers’, Hadjar replied, “You’re not really spoiling, it’s the trajectory. It’s written.”
Pressed again during Thursday’s media day in Baku about whether he already knows his future, he teased: “I have an idea, but…”
Hadjar quickly rowed back slightly, saying: “I don’t care. I really don’t care,” adding: “I had, like, five days off at home and other things to do than scrolling on Instagram.”
Marko urges patience on Red Bull decision as Hadjar waits in the wings
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko actively backs Hadjar, praising the rookie’s rapid progress despite limited testing.
Speaking to oe24, he highlighted how Hadjar’s rookie campaign stacks up against Mercedes’ young talent Andrea Kimi Antonelli, pointing out that the Frenchman has made a stronger first impression.
“You can see that Hadjar is performing better in his first year in Formula 1, and that with very few test kilometres,” Marko said. “But both are still very young, so let’s see how they develop.”
While Marko acknowledged Hadjar now looks calm and confident enough to handle life alongside Verstappen—a seat that has proven unforgiving for past teammates—he stopped short of confirming any decision.
“We’re taking our time with that decision,” he explained, making clear that the team intends to observe the next few races before committing. “Once again, we’ll take a calm look at the next few races and then make a decision.”
Hadjar’s resilience has been a recurring theme this season. After the crushing disappointment of crashing out on the formation lap of his debut, the youngster has since rebounded with remarkable composure.
Asked where he still needs to improve, he was quick to point to the technical side of the sport:
“I think from an engineering point of view, maybe. It’s such a technical world, I would say, as a rookie, it’s where I’m learning the most. Not really driving the car, I know how to do that.”
That attitude has helped endear him to fans, particularly during a Red Bull demonstration event at Magny-Cours earlier this month.
Hadjar got to drive the RB7 alongside Red Bull-affiliated Formula E driver Sebastien Buemi and rally legend Sebastien Loeb, giving him a taste of what a home race could feel like.
“That was pretty awesome. I didn’t expect that many people! So, yeah, that was basically my French Grand Prix, a kind of home race, so that was good.”
Reflecting on the support, he added with a laugh: “It’s a nice feeling, but the wrist is burning! I really enjoyed it.”
READ MORE – Max Verstappen recalls big differences in GT racing after ‘fun’ Nurburgring race
Discussion about this post