Hadjar, what a debut season
Isack Hadjar left a clear mark in 2025, the year of his Formula 1 debut. In a season that saw rookies make a strong impact on the championship – with Kimi Antonelli securing two podium finishes and Oliver Bearman narrowly missing out on one in Mexico – the French driver certainly did not look out of place. Hadjar claimed a third-place finish at Zandvoort and delivered consistently solid performances throughout the year.
After a shocking start in Melbourne, where he crashed into the barriers on the formation lap and returned to the pits in tears, Hadjar managed to react in the best possible way. He went on to score 51 points, only losing his place in the top ten of the Drivers’ Championship at the final round in Abu Dhabi. His raw speed and racecraft earned him a call-up to Red Bull, which arrived shortly before the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the expense of Yuki Tsunoda. A promotion that Racing Bulls believe was fully deserved.
Permane’s words
“Isack was phenomenal. We saw him after the Melbourne disaster and the huge emotional shock it caused him, but he recovered almost immediately,” said Faenza-based team principal Alan Permane to Motorsport Week. “He had a really strong race in Japan, already by his third weekend. Suzuka went a bit under the radar, but for me that’s where his season really began. He did an incredible job, got to grips with the car and understood how to make it work on a circuit like Suzuka, which is obviously not easy. And from there, he just kept getting faster.”
“We could be almost certain that he would reach Q3 every weekend with the right car. We are obviously sad to lose him, but at the same time very proud that he did a good enough job to earn a promotion.” Isack Hadjar will now have to overcome the so-called ‘curse’ of the second Red Bull seat, a role in which Max Verstappen’s teammate has rarely been able to deliver consistent points for the team.
Isack Hadjar’s promotion represents the culmination of a classic redemption arc, transforming a heartbreaking debut into a career-defining opportunity alongside the world champion. Alan Permane’s high praise underscores a level of mental fortitude that Red Bull desperately needs in its second seat—a quality Isack Hadjar proved by turning his “disaster” in Australia into a podium-winning campaign. As the 2026 season approaches, the focus will shift from Isack Hadjar’s impressive rookie stats to his ability to survive the internal pressure of the Red Bull garage, where his “phenomenal” adaptability will be tested against the highest benchmark in the sport.
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