Formula 1 broadcaster Alex Brundle has backed Isack Hadjar to be given support by Red Bull as the sport enters a new era of uncertainty in 2026, if the circumstances are right.
The Frenchman enjoyed a stellar debut season in 2025 with satellite squad Racing Bulls, scoring 51 points, including a podium at the Dutch Grand Prix.
Hadjar’s performances earned him the coveted second seat at the Milton Keynes-based outfit alongside Max Verstappen, ousting Yuki Tsunoda.
It will be a task for Hadjar to match the team’s expectations, with fellow Red Bull junior alumni Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon having quickly come and gone from the team, as well as Sergio Perez, who was axed shortly after the end of the 2024 season.
But speaking on the Rolling Start podcast, Brundle indicated that Hadjar will be acutely aware that Verstappen sets a high bar by default, but stated Hadjar will naturally be ambitious.
“Well, the first thing is when you enter that programme, you know the destination is Max. What are you going to do? Drive for RB forever?” he siad.
“And you don’t get to the position Hadjar is in without wanting to be a world championship-winning F1 driver. And to be a world championship-winning F1 driver without beating everyone. And everyone includes Max last time I checked.
“He knew the seat was coming. What’s clear is that it was abundantly clear when he was first asked, and that was maybe even before the turn of this regulation set, would you be ready for the Red Bull seat? There was that moment of slight hesitancy there.
“Because this is how he wanted to do it. And I can understand that entirely.”
![Isack Hadjar [pictured] has deferred to Max Verstappen for Day 2 of the F1 pre-season test. Image: Red Bull Content Pool](https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Isack-Hadjar-Red-Bull-test-2026-1024x576.webp)
2026 regulations could play into the hands of Isack Hadjar
Hadjar’s promotion to the Red Bull top table coincides with the new regulations cycle that begins this year, making his move different to that of those who have come – and failed – before him.
Brundle believes that this could play into the 21-year-old’s hands, and could potentially prove the theory that its cars are catered for Verstappen’s driving style right or wrong.
“With a new regulation set comes new cars, a full new group of bits and an entirely new driving style,” he said. “So we are about to find out if Max, that reg set, and that specific car was magic or if there is an opportunity for Hadjar.
“I think he is the driver of the last sequence of team-mates who Max has had, who has the best chance here of survival because he has the opportunity to get his head around these regs and fight his corner.
“And if he performs, I really believe Red Bull will back him.”
Brundle continued that if the RB22, backed by its first in-house powertrain – built in collaboration with American giants Ford – is not sufficiently capable of challenging for race wins, then a necessity to lean on Hadjar may be more worthwhile than in previous years, when focus has been put onto Verstappen for a title charge.
“What’s important to remember is Red Bull have been a potentially championship-winning team with Max for a long time. Will that be the case this year?” he said.
“Even though to have a championship-winning car for Hadjar will of course be the aim and beneficial, if Red Bull don’t necessarily hit the ground running – we’re hearing everything about how brilliant the Mercedes engine is going to be again, [which is] conjecture until they’re all on the race track, and again the report is Hamilton in the Ferrari did the fastest time in the shakedown for whatever that’s worth, it’s all pinch of salt stuff – if the Red Bull isn’t chart-topping, they’re going to need both drivers more.
“If you’ve got a Red Bull that can win races in the hands of Max, they focus on Max. That’s another reason why it’s the right time for Isack.”
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