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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