Racing Bulls CEO Peter Bayer has remarked that the team will “handcuff” Isack Hadjar amid Red Bull’s potential interest in promoting him in Formula 1.
The French rookie has so far excelled this season, scoring 21 points to sit in ninth place in the Drivers’ Championship ahead of this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix.
Following an embarrassing formation lap shunt in his debut Grand Prix in Australia, Hadjar has demonstrated considerable maturity and speed.
And with his initial team-mate Yuki Tsunoda now struggling to adapt to Red Bull, having replaced Liam Lawson, people have begun to speculate as to whether Hadjar will be next in line.
But although Racing Bulls will be aware of its place as the satellite outfit to the main Red Bull team, it will be desperate to hold onto Hadjar for as long as possible.
And for Bayer, he believes that it would be beneficial for him, as well as the team, to stay until he fully integrates into the world of F1.
“For heaven’s sake, don’t take this talent away from us too soon,” Bayer was quoted as saying by German publication Blick.
“He should get to know the whole business by the end of 2026. Until then, we’ll just have to handcuff him!”
The Red Bull revolving door
If Hadjar is promoted to the main squad, then it will be another example of the revolving door that seems to turn continuously for Max Verstappen’s team-mates.
After two Red Bull prospects in Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon fell by the wayside, veteran Sergio Perez was chosen in a change of tact, but after four seasons, he too was bumped.
Lawson’s difficulties in adapting to the capricious RB21 saw him swapped back to the sister outfit, with Tsunoda finally getting his big break.
Now Hadjar’s performances have left him in prime position to be the next in line to be promoted, with 17-year-old Formula 2 prospect Arvid Lindblad seemingly not far behind, the Brit having been handed a superlicence exemption.
READ MORE – Has Isack Hadjar become the next in line to take on poisoned Red Bull chalice?
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