F1 | Hadjar in Red Bull? For Marko, 2026 is the perfect year. Here’s why
Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s long-time motorsport advisor, sees 2026 as the ideal moment for Isack Hadjar to step up to the senior team in Milton Keynes. With Formula 1’s new regulations forcing every driver to start from scratch with cars that will need to be completely reshaped and developed, the Austrian believes that is the right time to integrate the French rookie.
The arrival of Isack Hadjar at Red Bull Racing increasingly looks like a matter of “when” rather than “if.” The Milton Keynes squad, no longer fighting for the 2025 Constructors’ Championship, is pouring most of its resources into providing Max Verstappen with the best possible car. At the same time, the team is continuing to support Yuki Tsunoda, aiming to make him a consistent contributor rather than another stopgap figure in the second Red Bull seat alongside the Dutch champion.
However, Red Bull’s ambitions go far beyond short-term results. Under the leadership of Laurent Mekies, the team is already preparing for a return to dominance starting in 2026. That is when Formula 1’s new technical rules will radically reshape the design philosophy of the cars, ushering the sport into a new era.
For this reason, Red Bull needs a second driver who can deliver strong performances and align with the team’s high ambitions. Hadjar, the latest standout talent from the Red Bull Junior Academy, has been turning heads in his debut season, which is currently underway. His consistent pace, racecraft, and maturity have not gone unnoticed by paddock insiders, who increasingly see him as a natural fit for a Red Bull seat in the near future.
Recently, Hadjar admitted that he is very interested in moving up to Red Bull Racing, but not before the 2026 season. He believes that is when the timing will be right, as the introduction of new cars and driving styles will effectively reset the playing field. In other words, everyone will be starting from zero—or at least from the same point of reference. This is precisely the perspective shared by Helmut Marko.
The Red Bull advisor has made it clear that he agrees with Hadjar’s view, envisioning the Frenchman joining Milton Keynes in 2026. At that time, he would not need to adapt to a car that has been fine-tuned around Verstappen’s preferences, but rather to a machine that is still evolving and can be shaped to suit both drivers.
“The current ground-effect cars are very special,” Marko explained. “And with the next regulations, a completely different driving style will be required. You have to use a lot of intelligence for energy recovery management and other systems. That’s why I believe it will be a very good time to switch teams.”
These comments highlight Red Bull’s long-term vision. By 2026, Verstappen will still be the central figure in the team, but having a young, hungry and adaptable teammate like Hadjar could provide the perfect balance. If all goes as expected, the French rookie may well become the next Red Bull star as Formula 1 enters its new era.
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