Big effect in Formula 1: Isack Hadjar becomes the new Red Bull driver!

Big effect in Formula 1: Isack Hadjar becomes the new Red Bull driver!

Isack Hadjar will drive for Red Bull Racing from the 2026 season. The 21-year-old Frenchman will succeed Yuki Tsunoda, whose performances in the current season fell short of expectations. This is reported by the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf and the German newspaper Picture, while an official confirmation from Red Bull is still pending.

Hadjar, who currently drives for the sister team Racing Bulls, is considered a promising talent. Despite his yet to win Formula 1, he has done well and currently has 51 points, making him the second highest scoring rookie this season. He also achieved a podium at the race in Zandvoort. Hadjar, who has overcome doubts about his promotion, is optimistic and reiterates that he will be on the grid next season.

The exchange at Red Bull

Yuki Tsunoda, who is currently 15th in the drivers' standings, will leave Formula 1 after the 2025 season. Tsunoda has only amassed 25 points since being promoted to Red Bull and will be replaced by another young driver. Arvid Lindblad, an 18-year-old British-Swedish junior, will succeed Tsunoda at the Racing Bulls. Lindblad is currently racing in Formula 2 and is considered a great talent and potential world champion. He was seen as a temporary solution for Red Bull until Hadjar was ready to make the move to the main team.

Hadjar's time with the Racing Bulls is now being closely followed by the success-oriented Red Bull management group. The prospective promotion puts pressure on former teammates Tsunoda and Liam Lawson as Red Bull develops its own engines in partnership with Ford for the 2026 season. Hadjar also expresses and emphasizes optimism about the competitiveness of the new engine.

A look into the future

Looking at the rookies of the 2025 season, it is clear that Hadjar is one of six drivers making their debut in Formula 1. The other rookies include Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes), Jack Doohan (Alpine), Oliver Bearman (Haas) and Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber). These newcomers show that, despite the rise of Lawson and Hadjar, Red Bull has a surplus of talented drivers in its ranks.

In Formula 2, many drivers are also fighting for a place at Red Bull, including Oliver Goethe from Germany, Arvid Lindblad, Jose Maria Marti from Spain and Ayumu Iwasa from Japan, who has already had two Friday appearances for Red Bull. This competitive environment will continue to challenge the team as they look ahead to the next few seasons.

Overall, Isack Hadjar's future looks promising. With his promotion to Red Bull Racing and the support of the team, he has the opportunity to prove himself in Formula 1 and potentially achieve even greater success. He has already won the hearts of fans in his first season and is seen as a driver for the next generation.