The world of Formula 1 operates at a tempo that often breaks even the most seasoned competitors. It is a sport where the distance between crushing disappointment and career-defining glory is measured in mere days, and the toll this takes on a young driver is often hidden beneath the visor. For Isack Hadjar, the newly-promoted Red Bull Racing star for 2026, that journey has been so relentlessly brutal that, looking back, he confesses he “wouldn’t do it again.” Yet, it is this very crucible of pressure and emotional investment that has forged him into the driver Red Bull believes can step into the toughest, most scrutinized seat in all of motorsport: partnering three-time World Champion Max Verstappen.
The Long, Unforgiving Road to the Top
Hadjar’s candid admission—that the long, winding road of investment, “blood, sweat, and tears” nearly paid off, but was a journey he would not repeat—offers a rare glimpse into the sacrifice demanded of elite athletes. His words resonate deeply, painting a picture of a young man who has endured a relentless ascent through the junior ranks, where funding, performance, and opportunity hang by the thinnest of threads. It is a testament to the fact that reaching the pinnacle is not just about raw speed, but sheer, stubborn survival through moments where his metaphorical “wall just collapsed.”
The announcement that Hadjar, at just 21, would be moving from the Racing Bulls junior team to the senior Red Bull outfit, arriving ahead of the new regulation change in 2026, was a moment of profound vindication. He expressed immense gratitude for the opportunity and the trust placed in him, noting that his promotion felt like a “great reward” after years of unwavering commitment from himself and those who kept “believing and pushing me” through the many ups and downs. This reward, however, comes with a caveat: the most daunting challenge in modern motor racing.
The Rollercoaster of a Rookie Season
The emotional and professional volatility of Hadjar’s first year in Formula 1—the 2025 season—is the defining narrative of his readiness. His journey was a startling sequence of extremes. It began with a crushing low in Melbourne, where a “silly mistake” during the formation lap resulted in a crash and a devastating Did Not Start (DNS) for his first-ever Grand Prix. This experience, he noted, caused his world to “just collapsed” in the car. It was a moment of public, profound humiliation.
Yet, Hadjar’s capacity for rapid emotional recovery—a necessary trait for any champion—was immediately evident. Just five days later, in China, he delivered a phenomenal qualifying performance, lining up P7 on the grid. This dramatic turnaround was a clear signal of his resilience, a trait not lost on the sport’s established figures. Notably, Lewis Hamilton offered a deeply “classy gesture” of support, taking a photograph with the young driver on the parade lap, while his father, Anthony Hamilton, known for navigating the intense pressure of a young driver’s career, was also supportive. These moments of validation from the sport’s elite underscored the talent and potential simmering beneath the rookie’s surface.
The momentum, once found, proved to be unstoppable. Hadjar soon notched his first World Championship points in Japan, describing the smooth weekend as “so good.” The first points finish often acts as a psychological key, unlocking a driver’s full confidence. Hadjar affirmed this, stating, “once you have that point finish you’re like ‘Okay now I can I can actually do it.’ And we need more.”
He certainly delivered more. The peak of his rookie season arrived in Zandvoort, the home of his future teammate, where he secured a stunning maiden podium finish after a competitive qualifying and race drive. The result was particularly unexpected, coming at a track where he had the “worst Friday of the season.” By turning things around overnight and securing a spot on the second row of the grid, Hadjar demonstrated not only pace but the crucial ability to execute under pressure, successfully fending off rivals like George Russell and both Ferraris during the race. Finishing the season 10th in the World Championship with 51 points and holding the highest average qualifying position outside of the top four teams, Hadjar had undeniably “ticked all the boxes” required of him, despite the rookie mistakes he openly admits to.
The Toughest Job in Motorsport
The next chapter of Hadjar’s career is less about proving his speed and more about surviving the intensity of the Red Bull garage. The role of Max Verstappen’s teammate is famously fraught, described by the interviewer as “the toughest job in motorsport and possibly all world sport at the moment,” a seat that has seen a revolving door of highly talented drivers struggle to cope.
Hadjar’s perspective on this immense pressure is, however, not one of fear, but of profound excitement and curiosity. He acknowledges the scrutiny, stating he is “very curious to know why it’s that hard,” but his overriding emotion is a sense of immense privilege. “I feel very privileged to be at 21 having to have a go next to the best driver on the planet right now,” he stated emphatically. For Hadjar, this is the ultimate educational experience, a chance to be on ground level with one of the most successful F1 projects of all time. The opportunity, he mused, is “super exciting to know what’s what does the best guy on the grid do.” This perspective—viewing the challenge as a learning privilege rather than an immediate threat—is a psychological asset that may define his success or failure in the Red Bull cockpit.
The expectation is enormous. Hadjar understands he is not just representing himself, but carrying the weight of Red Bull, Ford, and Red Bull Power Trains on his shoulders. It is an environment where the “driver input is going to be huge,” and the success of a multi-billion dollar operation will rest on the shoulders of two young men.
The 2026 ‘Clean Sheet of Paper’
Perhaps the most significant factor playing into Hadjar’s favor is the timing of his promotion: 2026 marks the beginning of a new era of Formula 1 regulations. This, Hadjar believes, is his “big, big help.”
The common speculation surrounding Red Bull is that their dominant cars have often been subconsciously or consciously tuned to Verstappen’s unique driving style, making it exponentially harder for a new teammate to adapt. With the radical overhaul of chassis and power unit regulations, this narrative is fundamentally altered. “The car is not tuned to Max yet,” noted the interviewer, because “it doesn’t even exist yet.”
Hadjar is stepping into a team starting from a “clean sheet of paper.” This means all drivers, including Verstappen, will be grappling with an entirely new concept, engine, and philosophy. It offers Hadjar a rare, level starting field where he can work with the engineers from the outset to shape the car’s evolution, ensuring he is comfortable with the machine underneath him. Early simulator sessions have already confirmed the car’s highly unstable nature, describing the model as “very tricky to drive,” which suggests that the driver who can master the vehicle’s limit, utilizing their lightning-fast reactions—like the one Hadjar famously deployed in the Monaco tunnel during his F2 days—will gain the ultimate advantage.
Isack Hadjar’s story is a compelling blend of emotional strain and competitive triumph. He has survived the F1 junior meat grinder, navigated a career-defining rookie season filled with extreme highs and lows, and now finds himself elevated to the ultimate position. He is stepping into the Red Bull seat, not by luck, but by demonstrating the unique kind of psychological fortitude required to stare down the most fearsome challenge in the sport.
He feels ready, happy, and proud of the trust Red Bull has invested in him. The work now moves behind the scenes, a meticulous preparation for a season that will either solidify his position as a future champion or see him join the list of those who couldn’t handle the pressure. Regardless of the outcome, Hadjar’s journey to the Red Bull team has already become one of the most compelling and emotionally charged narratives on the modern F1 grid.
