Isack Hadjar showed the rookie season’s strongest form to date with a career-best fourth on the Dutch Grand Prix grid, underscoring why Red Bull’s long-term plans have him positioned prominently in their driver lineup discussions. The French-Canadian-born driver, who has become one of the most talked-about personalities on the 2025 F1 grid, is now at the top of Red Bull’s list for partnering Max Verstappen should a senior-seat opportunity arise.
Hadjar’s appeal isn’t limited to raw speed. He is widely regarded as one of the most intriguing characters on the grid: exceptionally fast, relentlessly hardworking, and compellingly honest, yet at times blunt and guarded around others. He has been candid about the pressure of F1 life, prompting talk of him needing to “smile more” in public, not as forced extroversion, but as a steadier presence in the garage and media moments.
The driver himself talks openly about the mental side of the sport and is working with a mental coach to manage the highs and lows that come with racing at the highest level. He emphasizes a pragmatic approach: the true test is the progression curve over a weekend, not any single result. “Good weekends are rare in motorsport,” Hadjar says, explaining his focus on learning from the journey rather than fixating on every race outcome.
Hadjar’s path to F1 has been marked by deliberate preparation and a willingness to live and work where the team is. He relocated from Paris to Faenza to be near the Red Bull Racing factory, dedicating long hours to pre-season setup, engineering talks, and simulation work. He stresses that a lack of mileage in testing hasn’t held him back; instead, he concentrates on maximizing track time and absorbing lessons from every session.
On track, Hadjar has delivered tasks well beyond what many expected from a rookie. He started well in Australia with top-10 pace, earned his first points at Suzuka, and stacked three strong results in the middle of the year. His rapid adaptation has come even as he navigates a season that included a notable debut-weekend crash in Australia and tricky moments at Suzuka and Monaco. While his consistency dipped in the summer months, largely due to a mix of misfortune and strategic hiccups, his potential remains clear.
Red Bull’s internal view of Hadjar evolved as the year progressed. Initially considered a driver who might not need an immediate full-time push, he ultimately proved he could compete at the top level, contributing significantly to the junior-to-senior transition debate inside the program. That assessment has only strengthened, with Hadjar now widely discussed as a future top-line option, potentially alongside Verstappen in the senior team if a future vacancy opens.
Despite his relative inexperience in F1—Red Bull did not run an old-car testing program for him—Hadjar has shown a capacity to learn quickly. He maintains a grounded mindset: even in moments of frustration, he keeps a clear view of what went well versus what didn’t and stays focused on maximizing performance rather than chasing results alone. His philosophy of turning “the situation upside down” when things aren’t going his way reflects a resilience that the team values highly.
If there is a caveat, it’s that the season’s mid-portion saw Hadjar experience a dip, with teammate Liam Lawson gaining momentum and outscoring him during a five-race stretch. Yet the overall arc remains encouraging: Hadjar’s speed, mental resolve, and willingness to live close to the factory point toward a long-term potential that Red Bull has begun to trust more deeply.
As Hadjar looks toward the next steps, the takeaway is clear: the talent is undeniable, the work ethic is relentless, and the temperament is controlled enough to handle the pressure of a senior Red Bull seat. Whether his trajectory culminates in a future Verstappen teammate role or further demonstrates his case in the junior program, Hadjar has already left a lasting impression on the 2025 season.
What this means for Red Bull and the sport
– Hadjar’s rapid rise reinforces Red Bull’s strategy of promoting from within, prioritizing mental resilience and adaptive learning alongside raw pace.
– The emphasis on preparation, even when mileage is limited, underscores a broader shift toward developing drivers who can extract maximum performance in shorter timescales.
– If his momentum continues, Hadjar could become a central figure in future driver discussions within the team, potentially shaping the lineup alongside Verstappen in upcoming seasons.
Summary
Isack Hadjar’s Dutch GP fourth is the latest milestone in a rookie season defined by speed, mental composure, and hard-edged honesty. His rapid adaptation, disciplined preparation, and ongoing growth have elevated him to a leading position in Red Bull’s consideration for a future top-tier seat, making him one to watch as the sport moves forward.
Additional notes for readers
– Look for Hadjar’s consistency and decision-making under pressure as a key barometer of his readiness for a senior team role.
– Monitor how Red Bull balances rapid promotion with long-term development as the team weighs its options for the coming years.
– Hadjar’s approach to handling setbacks—emotional regulation, self-critique, and a focus on progression—could serve as a blueprint for young drivers navigating the pressures of Formula 1.