F1 | Isack Hadjar ready for Red Bull in 2026? Insights from Helmut Marko and team principals. Isack Hadjar is a top candidate for a Red Bull seat in 2026.

Isack Hadjar is at the top of the list of candidates for a Red Bull seat starting in 2026. The French driver, behind the wheel of the Racing Bulls, has impressed with solid performances in his debut season and believes that the upcoming regulation changes present the perfect opportunity for a career leap.

“With the new rules, everything will be different; it will be a fresh start,” Isack Hadjar explained. “It’s the right time for a move like this.”

This view is shared by Helmut Marko, who sees 2026 as a true chance to test emerging talents: “These ground-effect cars are very unique, and the new regulations will demand a completely different driving approach. Intelligence will be needed to manage the energy recovery systems. It’s the right moment for a change.”

Where Isack Hadjar still needs to grow

Despite the excitement, Marko urges caution and emphasizes that Isack Hadjar’s journey has only just begun: “He has raced in only a handful of Grands Prix and is still in full learning mode. He needs to continue step by step.”

Hadjar himself acknowledges there is room for growth, particularly on the technical side: “I feel ready behind the wheel, but I still need to improve in understanding the car from an engineering perspective to provide precise feedback to the team.”

Alan Permane, team principal of Racing Bulls, also points out a key area: consistency in qualifying. “When he puts together a perfect lap, he’s outstanding – like at Zandvoort, where he qualified fourth. But on other occasions, he hasn’t fully capitalized on his speed, especially in the final stages. This is normal for a rookie season, but it shows there’s still a lot of potential.”

Marko remains confident: with support from his engineer Pierre Hamelin and experience gained race by race, Isack Hadjar can close the gaps and be ready to tackle F1’s most demanding seat, alongside Max Verstappen.

The final verdict will come at the end of the season: Red Bull will assess his progress and make a decision by the Mexico GP in October, a date Marko has indicated as the reference point.