Isack Hadjar cautious over Red Bull switch amid Max Verstappen uncertainty. Isack Hadjar addresses rumours about a potential Red Bull promotion.

After the Spanish Grand Prix, rumours became increasingly insistent about Hadjar being close to a move to Red Bull: the Frenchman raises the alarm and halts everything.

At the end of the last Grand Prix at the Barcelona circuit, some rumours began to circulate around the reigning Drivers’ World Champion team. In particular, with Max Verstappen just one point away from disqualification, management has started looking for a possible replacement. Among the candidates, the most plausible seems to be Isack Hadjar—who, however, raises the alarm that halts the entire Red Bull operation: what’s wrong?

One of the biggest surprises of this season, at least in the first part, is undoubtedly the French driver of Algerian origin from Racing Bulls. Even before his debut behind the wheel of the car, and especially after what happened in Australia with his off-track incident during the formation lap, no one would have bet on him.

And yet, after Melbourne, Hadjar left all that behind and has truly shown what he’s made of. Six points finishes in nine Grands Prix place him ninth in the Drivers’ World Championship standings, having scored nearly all of Faenza’s team points.

Now his career is destined to change—either for better or, as has happened to other drivers, for worse. In fact, Hadjar appears to be the first candidate for the Red Bull seat should the four-time world champion face disqualification, and to replace Yuki Tsunoda starting from 2026. But what are the Frenchman’s thoughts, knowing that no one who has ended up alongside Verstappen has ever truly found their footing?

As soon as he was asked the question during the media day at the Canadian GP, Isack shook his head and remained silent. Only after thinking it over carefully did he say: “It scares me a little, I admit it.” He paused again and continued to reflect. “I wouldn’t say I feel ready to drive the Red Bull alongside Max Verstappen. I’ve only done nine races and it seems a bit complicated.”

“Looking at what Liam and Yuki have done, who have much more experience than I do and are two high-quality drivers… I’m not exactly ready, it’s true, but if they were to call me, I would definitely make myself available.”