Isack Hadjar has admitted that stepping up to Red Bull alongside Max Verstappen brought a genuine “culture shock”, despite the Frenchman having spent years within the organisation’s junior programme before earning his promotion to Milton Keynes.
Isack Hadjar enjoyed an excellent rookie Formula 1 season in 2025, convincing Red Bull to promote him to its senior team and place him alongside Max Verstappen for 2026. His debut campaign reached its high point with third place at the Dutch Grand Prix and, with Yuki Tsunoda struggling, Isack Hadjar emerged as the most obvious candidate to replace the Japanese driver. His progress has remained one of the key talking points around Red Bull, with Isack Hadjar’s development at the team attracting particular attention during the 2026 season.
However, even after becoming accustomed to life at Red Bull’s sister team, Isack Hadjar acknowledged that joining the main operation required some adjustments. Although the two teams belong to the same wider organisation, their working environments are noticeably different.
Isack Hadjar reveals ‘culture shock’ after joining Red Bull
“It was definitely a culture shock,” Isack Hadjar told the Talking Bulls podcast. “I went from more of a ‘family-run’ and Italian team to a British one. It’s definitely different.”
The French driver nevertheless stressed how important Racing Bulls had been in preparing him for the possibility of eventually earning a seat with Red Bull.
“VCARB helped me massively in my first year. They are used to having young drivers and preparing them for a possible future at Red Bull.”
That role has long been central to the sister team’s place within Red Bull’s Formula 1 structure. Young drivers are given an opportunity to develop before potentially moving into the senior operation, where the challenge of competing alongside a driver of Max Verstappen’s calibre brings another level of expectation and pressure.
Years in Red Bull system made Hadjar’s move feel natural
Despite the cultural difference between the two teams, Isack Hadjar explained that his move to Milton Keynes was far less dramatic than a conventional switch between rival Formula 1 organisations. His relationship with Red Bull stretches back several years through its junior programme, giving him prior experience with members of the senior team.
“I would say my move wasn’t like Lewis going from Mercedes to Ferrari. I’ve been part of the junior team since 2021. I’ve also taken part in FP1 sessions and junior tests.”
That familiarity extends to Richard “Woody” Wood, Isack Hadjar’s current race engineer. Their working relationship began well before the Frenchman became a full-time Red Bull Formula 1 driver.
“This year I’m working with Woody [Richard Wood], my current race engineer, and I already did my first FP1 outing with him three years ago. For me, being there almost feels natural.”
Isack Hadjar’s comments underline the contrast between the immediate cultural adjustment required after leaving the Italian-based Racing Bulls organisation and the familiarity created by years inside Red Bull’s driver-development structure. With Max Verstappen providing the benchmark on the other side of the garage, that preparation has become particularly valuable as Isack Hadjar continues his first season with the senior team.
The partnership also places Isack Hadjar directly alongside a driver whose feedback and expectations remain central to Red Bull, as illustrated by Max Verstappen’s recent comments involving the Racing Bulls drivers during the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend.
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