Red Bull: Isack Hadjar opens up on the prospect of racing alongside Max Verstappen. Rising French talent Isack Hadjar shares his excitement and nerves about the possibility of joining Red Bull.

Hadjar: “Teammate to Verstappen? The idea scares me, but it’s also thrilling”

A podium as a rookie

Young French driver Isack Hadjar is undoubtedly one of the biggest revelations of this Formula 1 season. After a challenging start, the Racing Bulls rookie has shown remarkable bursts of speed, culminating in an unexpected and fantastic podium at Zandvoort during the Dutch Grand Prix, finishing behind Oscar Piastri and reigning world champion Max Verstappen. The current Red Bull #1 could become Hadjar’s next teammate, as the Frenchman is strongly rumored for promotion to the Austrian team’s main lineup.

Recent experiences of Sergio Perez, Liam Lawson, and Yuki Tsunoda – as well as previous cases like Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon – demonstrate how difficult it can be to deliver strong results in the Milton Keynes team alongside Verstappen. Hadjar will feature in the program ‘Clique,’ set to air on Canal+ on September 22, but the episode has already been recorded. The preview of his interview with presenter Mouloud Achour has reinforced speculation that he could be the next driver to take the second Red Bull seat next season.

Fear and anticipation

“Being Max’s teammate? The idea scares me, but it’s also incredibly exciting,” Hadjar admitted. “I can picture it, and it would be a great line-up. Of course, I’m only at the start of my career, but this could be the opportunity I’ve been waiting for. I would have the same car as the best driver in the world, and he would be right next to me. I’d have the chance to compare myself with him and the same possibilities that he has.”

When asked if his statements were a kind of ‘spoiler’ for an official announcement as Red Bull’s new driver, Hadjar responded confidently: “It’s not really a spoiler, it’s the expected trajectory. It’s written.”