In this Formula Fools driver deep dive, we break down one of the boldest promotions of the 2026 season: Isack Hadjar.

Because Red Bull don’t promote drivers gently.

They throw them in next to Max Verstappen and see what survives.

David and Skin rewind to Hadjar’s junior journey — Paris-born, fast out of karting, climbing through French F4 and the Formula Regional/F3 ladder before landing in Formula 2. It wasn’t all smooth.

2023 F2? Tough. Winless. Doubts creeping in.

2024 F2? Full rebound mode. Four wins. Title fight. Toe-to-toe with Gabriel Bortoleto all the way to the finale — only for it to end in heartbreak after a painful stall at the worst possible moment.

That right there told Red Bull everything they needed to know.

He didn’t crumble. He bounced.

2025 brought his F1 debut at Racing Bulls. The first race was messy. The spotlight was brutal. But by mid-season he was knocking on Q3 regularly — and then came the breakthrough podium at Zandvoort. Suddenly the conversation shifted from “Is he ready?” to “How high is the ceiling?”

Then came the call.

Actually — his mum got the call first. When Hadjar was promoted to Oracle Red Bull Racing for 2026, she found out before he did. Peak modern F1. Your life changes and your mum’s phone buzzes first.

Now the real test begins.

Partnering Max Verstappen is not just another seat. It’s the hardest comparison in Formula 1. History shows most drivers don’t survive it.

We break down what makes Hadjar dangerous:

• Raw pace that Red Bull refused to give up on
• Racecraft that’s been repeatedly highlighted in his climb
• Resilience after both junior heartbreak and early F1 pressure
• A ceiling high enough that Red Bull were willing to risk it

The only question now?

Can he turn flashes into consistency — under the most intense spotlight on the grid?

Best case? He adapts quickly and becomes a genuine long-term Red Bull weapon.

Worst case? The Verstappen comparison becomes too heavy and he’s recycled back through the system.

Most likely? A bumpy start, proper moments of class, and a season defined by growth in the toughest seat in the sport.

At 21, he’s not just fighting for points.

He’s fighting to prove he belongs next to the benchmark.

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In this Formula Fools driver deep dive, we look at one of the most respected — and most statistically confusing — careers on the grid: Nico Hülkenberg.

Because if you only looked at his junior résumé, you’d assume multiple F1 titles were inevitable.

German Formula BMW champion.

A1 Grand Prix champion.

Formula 3 Euro Series champion.

GP2 champion — as a rookie.

That’s not a solid ladder climb. That’s a clean sweep.

David and Skin rewind to 2010, when Hülkenberg arrived in Formula 1 with Williams and immediately shocked the grid with a pole position in Brazil. In the wet. As a rookie. It looked like the beginning of something massive.

Instead, it became the beginning of a long, strange career arc.

Strong seasons at Force India. A technical brain teams trusted. A reputation for consistency and calm under pressure. Then the infamous “super sub” era — parachuting into cars mid-season and instantly performing like he’d never left.

And through it all, one stat followed him:

No podium.

We break down what makes Nico so respected anyway:

• Elite qualifying ability
• Clean, composed racecraft
• Rarely crashes, rarely panics
• Technical feedback teams genuinely value

In 2026, he finds himself at the centre of a new chapter — part of the Audi Revolut F1 Team works project. Not there for hype. There for stability, development, and experience.

This might be his final big opportunity.

Is Audi the reset that finally gives him that long-overdue podium?

Or will he go down as one of the greatest “almost” stories in modern Formula 1?

Best case? Audi over-deliver and Nico finally gets the champagne moment the paddock has wanted for years.

Worst case? He remains the benchmark — but without silverware.

Most likely? A key figure in Audi’s foundation years, remembered by drivers and engineers as a proper racer’s racer.

He may not have the trophies.

But ask anyone in the paddock — they’ll tell you he absolutely had the talent.

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In this Formula Fools driver deep dive, we talk about a man who has outlasted eras, regulations, rivals… and common sense retirement timelines: Fernando Alonso.

Because to understand Alonso, you have to go back to the early 2000s.

When Michael Schumacher was dominating Formula 1, it took someone very special to stop him. That someone was a young Spaniard with blistering speed, relentless racecraft, and zero fear. In 2005 and 2006, Alonso didn’t just win championships — he ended a dynasty.

He became the youngest double world champion at the time. And for a moment, it felt like the start of something even bigger.

Then came the twists.

Spells at McLaren. Ferrari. Returns. Departures. Near misses. Regret seasons. And yet somehow, here we are in 2026 — and Alonso is still on the grid with 427 race starts, 32 wins, 106 podiums, and two world titles.

We break down what makes Fernando different:

• Blistering underlying pace even in his 40s
• Elite race IQ — knowing when to attack, defend, or simply survive
• Wheel-to-wheel instincts that make him one of the hardest drivers to battle
• A mentality that simply does not accept being average

And yes — we talk about the fact he literally built a museum dedicated to his career. Most drivers sell merch. Fernando built a museum with hundreds of artefacts from his own story. That’s not ego. That’s legacy planning.

Now at Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team, Alonso isn’t here to circulate. He’s here because he still believes there’s another big moment left.

The question isn’t “can he still drive?”

It’s “can Aston Martin give him the car to fight properly again?”

Best case? Aston nail the 2026 regulations and Alonso gets that one final win — maybe more.

Worst case? He continues delivering elite performances without the machinery to convert them.

Most likely? He remains one of the sharpest racers on the grid, with his results tied almost entirely to Aston’s package.

Ten years from now, we won’t talk about Fernando Alonso as a “two-time champion.”

We’ll talk about him as the driver who stayed elite across generations — and refused to leave quietly.

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In this Formula Fools driver deep dive, we break down one of the most calculated competitors on the grid: Carlos Sainz.

Because Carlos Sainz doesn’t win headlines.

He wins weekends.

David and Skin rewind to 2015, when Sainz debuted at Toro Rosso alongside a certain teenage phenomenon named Max Verstappen. From day one, he showed he wasn’t there to play support act. Intelligent. Tough. Calm under pressure. Proper race IQ.

He’s never been chaos.

He’s been control.

Across spells at McLaren and Ferrari, Sainz built a reputation as the guy who thinks through races while others react to them. Four wins. Twenty-nine podiums. Multiple poles. Not accidental numbers — earned numbers.

We break down what makes Sainz different:

• Tenacious racecraft that puts the car right on the edge
• Strategic awareness mid-race
• Emotional control when things get messy
• And the rare ability to improve a team’s baseline performance

And then there’s the off-track leadership badge: in 2025, Sainz became a director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association — stepping into a role previously held by Sebastian Vettel. That’s not a popularity contest. That’s trust.

Now in 2026, he’s at Atlassian Williams F1 Team — not as a stopgap, but as an experienced race winner tasked with accelerating a rebuild.

The question isn’t whether Carlos can perform.

It’s whether Williams can give him the car to show it consistently.

Best case? Williams’ 2026 direction hits and Sainz becomes a regular podium threat again.

Worst case? He drives brilliantly… and the machinery caps the ceiling.

Most likely? High-level, intelligent performances that quietly drag Williams upward.

He’s not a chaos merchant.

He’s a strategist in a helmet.

And sometimes, that’s exactly what a rebuild needs.

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In this Formula Fools driver deep dive, we look at one of the grid’s most quietly impressive second acts: Alexander Albon.

Because Alex Albon’s career isn’t a straight line — it’s a bounce-back.

David and Skin rewind to a junior career that was seriously legit. GP3 runner-up to Charles Leclerc. In the Formula 2 title fight alongside George Russell. Always quick. Always competitive. Just slightly overshadowed by generational names.

Then 2019 happens.

Rookie season at Toro Rosso. Immediate impression. Mid-season promotion to Oracle Red Bull Racing. Thrown into the deep end next to Max Verstappen before he’d even finished a full year in Formula 1.

And when it didn’t quite click in 2020? He was out.

That’s where most careers fade.

Instead, Albon reset. Test and reserve duties. Stayed sharp. Took the hit publicly. And when Williams came calling, he grabbed the second chance with both hands.

Now in 2026 at Atlassian Williams F1 Team, Albon isn’t “the guy who got dropped.” He’s the benchmark. The reference. The driver Williams lean on to measure progress.

We break down what makes Albon dangerous:

• Strong one-lap pace when the car allows it
• Stylish, decisive overtaking
• A calm, mature race approach forged through adversity
• And a mentality that’s been hardened by the Red Bull experience

And yes — we talk about the “Albon Pets” British GP helmet and the whole Albon Zoo saga. Because somehow he’s built one of the most wholesome side quests on the grid while rebuilding his career.

The real question now?

If Williams keep climbing under the new regulations…

can Albon turn “solid rebuild story” into genuine podium threat?

Best case? Williams’ trajectory continues and he becomes a regular top-six finisher with real podium chances.

Worst case? He remains the guy dragging a midfield car further than it should go.

Most likely? The established Williams leader who keeps delivering those “how did he do that?” weekends.

He’s not the prodigy anymore.

He’s the proof that resilience works.

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Today’s deep dive is on the teenage rocket who stepped into the Lewis Hamilton seat. No pressure.

This episode is all about Andrea Kimi Antonelli — 19 years old entering 2026, three podiums already on the board, and driving for Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team.

David and Skin rewind to a junior career that looks like it was fast-forwarded. Son of sportscar racer Marco Antonelli. Scouted by Mercedes in karting. Titles everywhere. Italian F4 champion. ADAC F4 champion. Formula Regional champion. Then — instead of the normal ladder step — Mercedes skip F3 entirely and send him straight into Formula 2.

That’s when things get serious.

Wet-weather wins. A feature race victory in Hungary. That ridiculous move around the outside at Eau Rouge that made the paddock stop talking mid-sentence. The ceiling was obvious.

Then the sport shifted.

When Lewis Hamilton announced he was leaving for Ferrari, Mercedes didn’t look outside. They looked at Antonelli — and pulled the trigger.

Now in 2026, he sits alongside George Russell, entering a brand-new regulation era with 24 race starts, three podiums, and genuine belief from the team that he’s the long-term guy.

We break down what makes Antonelli different:

• Elite ceiling that Mercedes have publicly staked their future on
• Wet-weather confidence that already looks like a theme
• A career pattern of “skip the rung, still win”
• And the mental composure to replace a seven-time champion at 18

And yes — he literally passed his road driving test weeks before making his F1 debut. That happened.

The only real question now?

Was the promotion perfectly timed…

or terrifyingly early?

Best case? Mercedes nail 2026 and Antonelli becomes a genuine title contender before he’s 21.

Worst case? Inexperience shows and the narrative turns brutal.

Most likely? Flashes of brilliance in 2026 — and by 2027 or 2028, we’re talking about him as a full championship threat.

He’s not the future anymore.

He’s already here.

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In this Formula Fools driver deep dive, we tackle the biggest CV in Formula 1 history: Lewis Hamilton.

Because at some point, the numbers stop feeling real.

105 wins.

104 pole positions.

202 podiums.

Seven World Championships.

That’s not a stat line — that’s an era.

David and Skin rewind to a junior career that wasn’t just impressive — it was destructive. In 2005, Hamilton won 15 of 20 races in Formula 3. The year after, he took the GP2 title at the first attempt. He didn’t climb the ladder politely — he kicked the door down.

McLaren had been tracking him for years. By the time he debuted in 2007, he wasn’t “next up.” He was inevitable.

Fast forward nearly two decades and Hamilton enters 2026 not as a farewell tour driver — but as a Ferrari driver. A seven-time champion stepping into the most emotional seat in motorsport.

We break down what still makes him dangerous:

• Qualifying pace that is literally historical
• Race management built across 380 Grands Prix
• The adaptability to win across three separate team eras
• The ability to rise when the moment feels biggest

At 41, the only real question isn’t talent. It’s timing.

Can Ferrari give him a car capable of fighting at the very front in 2026?

Because if they can, history suggests one thing:

He will convert it.

Best case? Another title fight in red — maybe even an eighth crown that rewrites the record books.

Worst case? Mega performances without the machinery to back it up.

Most likely? Big moments, headline weekends, and a season defined by how competitive Ferrari truly are.

However it ends, one thing doesn’t change:

Lewis Hamilton isn’t chasing legacy.

He already is one.

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In this Formula Fools driver deep dive, we unpack one of the purest talents of the modern era: Charles Leclerc.

Because few drivers have arrived in Formula 1 with as much expectation — and as much pressure — as Charles Leclerc.

David and Skin rewind to a junior career that was, frankly, ridiculous. Back-to-back GP3 and Formula 2 champion. A rise described as “practically peerless.” He didn’t just win — he handled chaos, pressure, and even literal car fires on his way up.

Ferrari saw it immediately.

After one season at Sauber in 2018, Leclerc was promoted to the most pressurised seat in motorsport. Since then, he’s become the face of Ferrari’s modern era — racking up 27 pole positions, 50 podiums, and eight victories.

Twenty-seven poles.

That number matters.

Because it tells the real story: the speed has never been in doubt.

We break down what makes Leclerc so compelling:

• One-lap pace that borders on generational
• The ability to drag performance out of a car on Saturdays
• Racecraft that has matured from raw aggression into calculated execution
• And the emotional resilience required to carry Ferrari expectation week after week

We also touch on the quieter side of Charles — the pianist, the musician, the calm presence off-track that contrasts so sharply with the intensity of racing in red.

Now entering 2026 as Ferrari’s long-term pillar, Leclerc sits at a career crossroads. He’s 28. In his prime. Fast enough to win a championship.

The only question left:

Can Ferrari give him the car to turn poles into titles?

Best case? He leads Ferrari into a new championship era.

Worst case? He becomes the fastest driver of his generation without a crown.

Most likely? A perennial title threat whose legacy will be tied forever to whether Ferrari match his talent.

This isn’t about potential anymore.

It’s about finishing the story.

Follow us for more: Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook (search Formula Fools). Thanks for listening — and if you got a laugh or learned something, drop a 5-star rating and tell a mate.

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In this Formula Fools driver deep dive, we break down one of the most calculated careers on the modern grid: George Russell.

Because George Russell didn’t just arrive in Formula 1.

He planned his way here.

David and Skin rewind to Russell’s junior career — BRDC F4 champion, GP3 champion, Formula 2 champion. Back-to-back feeder series titles that stamped him as “next in line.” But the defining detail? The PowerPoint.

Before he was a Mercedes race driver, Russell literally presented his case — data, results, trajectory — directly to the decision-makers at Mercedes. No noise. No hype. Just preparation.

Then came the hard part.

Three seasons at Williams at the back of the grid. Learning, qualifying heroics, dragging impossible cars into Q2 and Q3, and waiting for the call. When the Mercedes promotion finally arrived in 2022, it wasn’t a gamble — it was the next step in a long-term plan.

By 2026, Russell enters the new regulation era with five wins, 24 podiums, and seven pole positions. Not hype numbers. Proven numbers.

This episode breaks down what makes George different:

• One-lap precision that consistently extracts more than the car suggests
• Quiet tyre management strength in strategic races
• The composure to handle pressure internally and externally
• And the mentality shift from “future talent” to “team leader”

Post-Hamilton, Russell isn’t waiting for opportunity anymore — he is the Mercedes reference point.

The only real question left:

If Mercedes give him a championship car…

does George Russell have the week-in, week-out grind required to turn it into a title?

Best case? He leads Mercedes back to the top.

Worst case? He becomes the most capable driver of his generation without a championship.

Most likely? A consistent winner who stays in the fight every year the car allows it.

This isn’t the story of raw chaos.

It’s the story of preparation meeting opportunity — and what happens next.

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In this Formula Fools driver deep dive, we break down one of the most composed young stars Formula 1 has ever seen: Oscar Piastri.

Because Oscar’s rise wasn’t loud.

It wasn’t chaotic.

It was clinical.

David and Skin rewind to a junior career that almost looks fake on paper: Formula Renault champion. FIA F3 champion (rookie year). FIA F2 champion (rookie year). Three major titles in three consecutive seasons — a genuine speedrun to Formula 1.

And then came the tweet.

When Alpine announced him as their 2023 driver without his agreement, Oscar didn’t rant. He didn’t overreact. He simply posted one of the coldest statements in modern F1 history and walked straight into a McLaren race seat instead. Controlled. Precise. Done.

From there, the numbers speak quickly. By 2026 he already sits on nine wins, 26 podiums, and multiple pole positions — output that normally belongs to drivers five years deeper into their careers.

But this episode isn’t just about stats.

We break down what actually makes Piastri dangerous:

• His tyre management that mirrors his junior consistency
• His Sunday composure under pressure
• The ability to quietly convert races without drama
• And the mental stability that allows him to operate in a two-number-one environment at McLaren

Now entering the 2026 regulation era, Oscar isn’t the rookie prodigy anymore. He’s a proven race winner in a front-running team — and fully capable of leading it on pure pace.

The real question isn’t whether Oscar Piastri can win races.

It’s whether he can sustain championship intensity year after year — especially when the garage next to him is just as fast.

Best case? Multiple titles.

Worst case? A career full of wins but blocked by timing.

Most likely? A decade-long threat who never goes away.

He doesn’t shout about it.

He just keeps turning up on Sunday.

Follow us for more: Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook (search Formula Fools). Thanks for listening — and if you got a laugh or learned something, drop a 5-star rating and tell a mate.

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