Isack Hadjar is about to enter the most challenging territory in Formula 1: the Red Bull garage alongside Max Verstappen. While the paddock wonders whether the young French driver can handle the pressure, two of Verstappen’s former teammates, Alex Albon and Sergio Perez, see in him a genuine talent capable of turning an almost impossible challenge into a unique opportunity.
A heavy legacy to uphold
Sergio Perez and Alex Albon know all too well what it means to step into the Red Bull garage alongside Max Verstappen. Both arrived with high expectations but were unable to sustain the comparison in the long term, leaving the team in 2024 and 2022, respectively.
Yet, in light of Hadjar’s promotion from the Red Bull junior program Racing Bulls, both former teammates express confidence. In their view, the Frenchman possesses the qualities to succeed where others have struggled.
Alex Albon, now driving for Williams, urges caution: “I think Isack is a fast driver, and I believe many of these regulation changes will be positive, serving as a new beginning for everyone. From what I’ve seen so far, he seems quite comfortable with the car. I think he has a lot to learn, not just about having a fast teammate, but also regarding the car itself. I think he’ll do well.”
Talent, composure, and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
Sergio Perez, who returns to F1 in 2026 with Cadillac, sees in Isack Hadjar not only a massive opportunity but also a psychological challenge that cannot be underestimated.
“I think he’s ready to join Red Bull during such a significant regulation change. He’s a very talented driver, and he has already proven it. I’m confident that if he stays calm throughout the season, he will have a highly successful career going forward. Being Max Verstappen’s teammate at Red Bull is fantastic. I think it’s a perfect place for him at this stage of his career. I believe it’s an enormous opportunity.”
For both former Red Bull drivers, the key will not just be raw speed, but the ability to handle the intense pressure of an environment that demands immediate excellence.
Isack Hadjar arrives at Red Bull amid major regulatory changes, with two of the team’s former drivers believing he is up to the challenge.
The talent is there, the environment is ideal: now it remains to be seen whether he can turn this chance into a winning trajectory alongside the most dominant driver of his generation.
This endorsement from Alex Albon and Sergio Perez underscores the high regard in which Isack Hadjar is held by those who have already faced the “Verstappen test.” As the 2026 season kicks off, the focus will be on whether the young rookie can leverage the technical reset of the new regulations to carve out his own space within the team, or if the weight of the second Red Bull seat will prove as challenging as it has been in the past.
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