As the Formula 1 paddock settles into Silverstone for the 2025 British Grand Prix, speculation is swirling about the future of Red Bull’s driver line-up—and the role rising star Isack Hadjar might soon play.
The 20-year-old Frenchman has impressed in his first full F1 campaign with Racing Bulls, raising questions about whether he could soon step up to the senior Red Bull team in place of the under-fire Yuki Tsunoda. For Hadjar, the ambition has never changed since the moment he joined Red Bull’s junior programme.
“When I signed the contract with Red Bull four years ago, the goal was to get to Red Bull, so it hasn’t changed,” Hadjar told reporters, including Total-Motorsport.com, at Silverstone.
But in a year where the senior team’s car, the RB21, has earned a reputation for being tricky and unpredictable, Hadjar’s next move is as much a topic of intrigue as it is uncertainty.
A Curiosity to Drive Red Bull’s Toughest Car Yet
With Red Bull struggling to close the gap to runaway leaders McLaren and finding itself under pressure from both inside and outside the team, many have wondered if a mid-season shake-up could be on the cards.
For now, the official line is that Tsunoda will remain with the squad through 2025, despite his ongoing difficulties in extracting performance from the RB21. Hadjar, meanwhile, admits he is intrigued by the prospect of stepping into the challenging car.
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“It’s definitely interesting. I would obviously love to, out of curiosity, go and have a look for myself,” Hadjar said. Yet, the rookie remains pragmatic about the timing of such a move.
“At the moment, it’s not like I’m in total control; I’m scoring points every weekend. There’s still a lot to learn, so it makes more sense to stay where I’m at at the moment.”
Mentally Ready for the Verstappen Test
One of the biggest obstacles for any driver joining Red Bull is the presence of four-time world champion Max Verstappen. Team principal Christian Horner has called being Verstappen’s teammate “the most difficult job in F1,” with drivers often struggling to match the Dutchman’s relentless pace and consistency. Hadjar, though, feels prepared for the challenge on at least one front.
“Mentally, yes. If there’s one thing I’m good at, it’s this,” Hadjar stated, when asked if he was ready for the daunting prospect of sharing a garage with Verstappen.
“The only thing is, do I have the skills? Mentally, I know I’m strong, so I’m not very worried about that. Do I have Verstappen’s skills? I don’t know. I don’t know yet. That’s the thing.”
He added, describing Verstappen’s unique approach: “That means you would start the weekend on the back foot all the time. He gets in the rhythm. He’s very explosive. He gets in the rhythm very fast. You always have to make up lap time and try to get there.”
What’s Next for Hadjar and Red Bull?
While Hadjar’s immediate future appears to be with Racing Bulls, his comments signal both an eagerness and a measured approach to career progression. With the second half of the 2025 season still to play out and the driver market more volatile than ever, eyes will remain on Red Bull’s next move.
For now, Hadjar is content to keep learning and scoring points, but his ambition is clear. Whether the next step comes this year or in 2026, the young Frenchman seems determined to one day tackle the ultimate F1 challenge—taking on Max Verstappen in equal machinery.
