Isack Hadjar Urged to Tread Carefully Alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull
Isack Hadjar has been given a clear and measured warning ahead of his first season as a Red Bull Racing driver: trying to take on Max Verstappen head-to-head would be a mistake. While there is strong belief within the Red Bull family that the young French-Algerian is ready for the challenge, expectations surrounding his approach have been carefully framed.
Hadjar’s rapid rise to the senior Red Bull team follows an impressive rookie campaign with Racing Bulls last year. Despite suffering a brutal setback early in the season — crashing on the formation lap of the Australian Grand Prix — the 21-year-old responded with resilience and maturity, delivering performances that caught the attention of Red Bull’s senior management. That recovery, combined with consistent speed and composure, ultimately earned him promotion to Formula 1’s most pressurised seat.
Now, Hadjar steps into a role that has proven unforgiving for many before him. He becomes the seventh team-mate of Max Verstappen during the reigning world champion’s decade-long Formula 1 career. Red Bull has long searched for a driver capable of complementing Verstappen without being overwhelmed by the task. Sergio Perez came closest to achieving that balance, but even the Mexican eventually struggled under the relentless demands.
Racing Bulls CEO Peter Bayer believes Hadjar’s year within the Red Bull system has prepared him better than most for what lies ahead. Speaking after the conclusion of last season, Bayer explained that the team’s philosophy could help the young driver find stability in a high-pressure environment.
“One of the unique things about our structure is that we don’t encourage our drivers to fight each other internally,” Bayer said. “Our responsibility is to help both drivers grow, and that mindset allows them to focus on themselves rather than comparisons.”
Bayer was particularly direct when discussing Hadjar’s on-track relationship with Verstappen, making it clear that the priority should be learning — not rivalry.
“No one goes to Red Bull Racing with the goal of racing Max straight away,” he said. “That would be the wrong approach from day one. The focus has to be on doing your job, learning, and understanding what it means to be part of that team.”
Joining Red Bull Racing also means stepping into an intense spotlight — something Bayer believes Hadjar is ready to handle, but not underestimate.
“You should be proud to race for Red Bull Racing,” he added. “But it comes with pressure. The expectations are higher, the scrutiny is constant, and the attention never stops.”
Bayer illustrated that contrast with a blunt observation about life in the midfield versus the front of the grid.
“If you’re starting from P11 to P20, you can almost sit back and wait for the lights to go out,” he joked. “But if you’re in the top ten, everyone wants a piece of you — media, sponsors, guests, VIPs. That circus will surround Isack now.”
Despite the challenges ahead, Bayer expressed full confidence in Hadjar’s ability to cope with the demands of a top-tier Formula 1 team.
“He’s intelligent, he’s well-trained, and he’s mentally strong,” Bayer said. “As a team, we’ve done everything possible to prepare him for this next step. The foundation is there — now it’s about how the journey unfolds.”
As Hadjar prepares to line up alongside the sport’s most dominant driver, his success may depend less on beating Verstappen and more on mastering the art of patience, development, and survival in one of Formula 1’s toughest environments.
