Isack Hadjar admits Red Bull seat would be “scary”, but he’s ready to take the chance. Isack Hadjar reflects on the possibility of joining Red Bull in 2026.

Isack Hadjar shared his thoughts in Canada on the possibility of joining Red Bull in the near future as a replacement for Yuki Tsunoda.

Red Bull running with only one competitive driver

Since 2019, Red Bull has faced a recurring issue: the second driver consistently underperforms compared to Max Verstappen. Following Daniel Ricciardo’s departure, the team has tested five drivers alongside the Dutchman — Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Sergio Perez, Liam Lawson, and Yuki Tsunoda — but none have met expectations.

In 2025, the seat was already reshuffled after just two races, but the Lawson-Tsunoda switch failed to improve the situation. Now, discussions are underway about Yuki Tsunoda’s replacement for 2026. The leading candidate is Isack Hadjar, who has impressed in the current season with Racing Bulls. However, both Tsunoda and Lawson had previously shown promise at Faenza. A promotion to Red Bull could see Hadjar become the next victim of the Verstappen comparison, and the Frenchman is fully aware of the risk.

Isack Hadjar’s statement

“It’s a bit scary, yes. And I definitely wouldn’t feel ready, that’s a fact,” Isack Hadjar admitted in Canada. “It’s fair to say it would be tough for me, because Liam and Yuki are quality drivers. It’s great to gain experience where I am, I’m really enjoying every weekend and learning a lot. It would be good to complete the full season with Racing Bulls.”

Still, Isack Hadjar understands that a true Formula 1 driver cannot back down from a challenge: “I would answer the call, that’s for sure. I’m curious about being next to Max, and Red Bull is a car I would love to drive. We’ll see what happens in the future, but obviously, as a junior driver, the natural path is to go to Red Bull.”