Red Bull warned over handling of Isack Hadjar as ‘biggest mistake’ risk emerges
Red Bull have been urged to tread carefully in how they manage Isack Hadjar’s promotion to the senior team, with former Formula 1 driver Derek Daly warning that a lack of support could lead to yet another short-lived partnership alongside Max Verstappen.
Hadjar is set to join Red Bull for the 2026 season, stepping up after just one full year in Formula 1. The Frenchman has been selected as the replacement for Yuki Tsunoda, the latest driver to struggle in the second Red Bull seat while partnering four-time world champion Verstappen.
The Milton Keynes-based team has become notorious for the difficulty faced by drivers lining up next to Verstappen, who has dominated every team-mate he has had in recent years. With the car increasingly developed around the Dutchman’s driving style, those alongside him have often found themselves trailing by significant margins, both in performance and points. This has triggered repeated changes to Red Bull’s driver line-up, as the team searches for someone capable of coping with the unique challenge.
Speaking about Hadjar’s situation, Daly stressed that Red Bull must focus on providing more than just a competitive car if it wants the young driver to succeed. According to the former F1 racer, Hadjar’s management team will already be working intensively behind the scenes during the winter break to mentally prepare him for the pressure of facing Verstappen head-to-head.
Daly believes the first priority will be ensuring Hadjar does not approach the season viewing Verstappen as an unbeatable force. He explained that those around the Frenchman will be trying to condition him mentally, encouraging him not to see his new team-mate as a “gladiator” who inevitably defeats all challengers. The aim, Daly suggested, will be to build belief early on and prevent doubt from taking root.
A strong start to the season will be crucial. Daly noted that Hadjar’s camp will be hoping the opening races go smoothly, allowing him to build confidence and settle into the team. Early positive results, even if they fall short of Verstappen’s benchmark, could be vital in helping Hadjar unlock his full potential and feel that he belongs at the front of the grid.
However, Daly made it clear that the psychological challenge of racing Verstappen is impossible to ignore. He dismissed the idea that any driver could be completely unaffected by the reputation of being Verstappen’s team-mate. According to Daly, every driver on the grid is fully aware of what has happened to those who have previously tried to match the Dutchman at Red Bull.
“There’s no way Hadjar hasn’t read about it, seen it, or discussed it,” Daly suggested, arguing that once those narratives exist, they inevitably linger in a driver’s mind. Even if the team publicly insists that Hadjar is emotionally detached from such pressure, Daly said he does not believe that to be realistic.
Instead, Daly emphasised that most drivers require strong emotional backing in addition to technical resources. While car performance, engineering support, and equipment are all essential, he argued that psychological support is just as important — and often underestimated. Without it, drivers can quickly lose confidence, especially when results are constantly compared to a dominant team-mate.
Red Bull’s recent history only adds weight to those concerns. A series of drivers have been promoted, struggled, and moved on after failing to match Verstappen’s level. Tsunoda now joins that list, despite showing flashes of speed elsewhere on the grid. The pattern has raised questions about whether the issue lies solely with the drivers, or whether Red Bull’s approach to managing its second seat is flawed.
For Hadjar, the challenge will be immense. He enters the team with limited F1 experience and immediately faces one of the sport’s most formidable competitors. Daly’s warning suggests that if Red Bull repeats past mistakes — by focusing too heavily on Verstappen while neglecting the mental and emotional needs of his partner — the team could soon be facing further instability.
Ultimately, Hadjar’s success may depend not only on his talent, but on whether Red Bull are willing to learn from previous missteps. Providing the right environment, Daly implies, could be the difference between nurturing a long-term asset and adding another name to the list of drivers overwhelmed by the Verstappen factor.
