Red Bull Motorsports
F1
Isack Hadjar's rapid rise from F1 rookie to Oracle Red Bull Racing driver
Isack Hadjar has had an incredible rookie F1 season and after scoring his first podium at the Dutch GP, the French youngster has earned a promotion to partner Max Verstappen at Oracle Red Bull Racing.
What a rookie Formula 1 season its been for 21-year-old French sensation Isack Hadjar. Sitting in an impressive 10th place in the Drivers' Standings with just one Grand Prix remaining after a stunning third place finish in August's Dutch GP and eight further top-10 finishes in the Visa Cash App Racing Bulls VCARB02, Hadjar has seriously impressed with his speed and maturity.
Now, thanks to his brilliant performances across the 2025 season, Hadjar has been handed the dream opportunity to partner four-time world champion Max Verstappen at Oracle Red Bull Racing for the 2026 season.
"I'm so grateful to Oracle Red Bull Racing for giving me the opportunity and trust to race at the highest level of Formula One. After all the hard work I have put in since joining the Junior Team, it’s such a great reward," said Hadjar. "This year with Visa Cash App Racing Bulls has been absolutely amazing, I've learnt a lot and secured a maiden podium. I feel I'm much better as a racing driver and a person due to the team's support and preparation. I feel ready to go to Oracle Red Bull Racing and I'm happy and proud they feel the same. It's an awesome move. To work with the best and learn from Max is something I can't wait for."
Isack Hadjar is joing Max Verstappen at Oracle Red Bull Racing in 2026
© Oracle Red Bull Racing/Red Bull Content Pool
Hadjar will join the senior Red Bull team at the start of an exciting new era for F1, as the sport will see the biggest shake-up to its technical regulations for several decades in 2026 and the debut of Red Bull Ford Powertrains on track. Oracle Red Bull Racing will be tackling this new challenge with a mix of youth and experience in the cockpit of the all-new RB22, which will break cover in Detroit, USA, on January 15, 2026.
"In his first F1 season, Isack has displayed great maturity and proved to be a quick learner. Most importantly, he's demonstrated the raw speed that is the number one requirement in this sport. We believe Isack can thrive alongside Max and produce the magic on track! 2026 will be a huge challenge for the team and for Red Bull Ford Powertrains. These are exciting times, and I am looking forward to seeing what we can do together," said Laurent Mekies, CEO and Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing, on the signing of Hadjar.
01
A childhood dream comes true
With his F3 car in Hungary
© Dutch Photo Agency/Red Bull Content Pool
Only five years passed between Isack Hadjar's birth and the moment he put his foot on the accelerator for the first time. A year later, he then took a more "serious" (in his own words) step (yes, at the age of six) in this direction. Under these circumstances, you'd usually assume that pushy parents were to blame for putting him behind the wheel at such an early ages, but that wasn't the case here: "I always wanted to do it. Have you seen the film Cars? It gave me the impetus. I saw it and thought: 'OK, that's it, that's my thing'," he says. "I always had at least a little car in my hand."
When he was seven years old, he took part in his first regional competitions with a 4.5hp kart. That was the start of a burgeoning career. From regional level to the 2018 World Championships, Hadjar was able to prove himself in karting on almost every circuit in the country before moving to the next level.
02
Joining the FFSA
Isack Hadjar, the rising star of French motorsport
© Dutch Photo Agency/Red Bull Content Pool
After that, he was gripped by his obsession with Formula One. Although he continued his education at a public school when he joined the FFSA (Fédération Française du Sport Automobile) academy, he says in retrospect: "The FFSA was like a second home". It was there that he discovered the joys of single-seater racing in F4, finishing seventh in the French championship and taking his first victory at Spa-Francorchamps. A year later, at the age of 16, he had eight further podiums, two poles and three wins, finishing third overall.
The fact that he was a talent for the future could no longer be denied. He joined the FRECA, a regional F3 championship halfway between F4 and F3. While some drivers try to go straight from one level to the other by skipping this intermediate stage, in hindsight Hadjar is glad he made the decision to make the transition easier for himself. The decision paid off, as he became a star in the Formula Regional. He cemented his position as Rookie of the Year with a magnificent victory in Monaco. Following his third place in the overall standings, the Red Bull Junior Team took notice and announced that he would join them for the 2022 season; this time in F3.
Isack Hadjar is now part of Formula One
© Dutch Photo Agency/Red Bull Content Pool
His obvious talent meant he only spent a short time in F3. He raced there for one season, battling Victor Martins and Oliver Bearman straight for the title. Unfortunately, a failed qualifying session in Monza ruined his chances of overall victory. Despite the disappointment, Hadjar saw this stage as a real learning experience, particularly in terms of media exposure: "It takes place at the same time as F1 and is broadcast on Canal Plus, so of course the media coverage is not the same." He finished fourth, but made such a good impression that he was promoted to F2 a few months later.
His first season was all about getting used to the new environment. He says of the transition from F3 to F2: "It was difficult, the step was complicated. I remember that I didn't feel comfortable in my team. It's no longer just 'here, we give you the car and you drive it', this was a real, collective effort together with the engineers. If you don't feel well looked after, it can't work. He finished 14th, but in the following season Hadjar continued to establish himself as a rising star in motorsport. He finished runner-up in the F2 World Championship with Campos Racing, narrowly missing out on the title. As he prepared for the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi, he was a few points behind Gabriel Bortoleto. Unfortunately, the Hadjar stalled on the start line and his Brazilian rival went on to finish second and claim the title. Looking back, however, this season was a complete success: "We did everything right," he says with a proud smile on his face.
03
The tough times behind the glamour
On the F2 podium again at Emilia-Romagna
© Dutch Photo Agency/Red Bull Content Pool
F1 drivers are often the envy of the younger generation. As successful sporting role models, they spark interest, curiosity and sometimes even envy. But when LeBouseuh asks Isack to talk about the difficulties he has experienced in his young career, the driver seems to have no choice but to be honest. He has to go back to the beginning of his career: "When I drove my first international season, I realised how hard it is. When you're young, you're already under financial pressure that you'll carry with you for the rest of your career. This financial aspect frustrated me; it was hard to cope with not being able to take part in all the championship races," he laments. "While I was at school, my colleagues were on the track [...] when you get to the race, you're obviously much less prepared [than they are]."
And then his switch to F2 was anything but a walk in the park: "The most difficult year of my life? That was in F2. In 2023, there were times when I thought: 'I'll never make it into F1'. When things aren't going so well, there are weekends when you wonder why you've made this journey. To be honest, I've had some really bad times," he explains and is all the more pleased to be in his current position despite the many obstacles.
04
A new environment with familiar faces
Hadjar's development has been exponential
© Dutch Photo Agency/Red Bull Content Pool
After what has been an exponential rise over the years, Hadjar is now at a turning point in his career. The point at which the interview happened was characterised by his preparations for the premier class of motorsport. When asked about his previous relationships with his team-mates, Isack showed no reservations: "I may be biased, but I think I'm an easy-going team-mate. I consider myself a real team player. I've always been good to my colleagues, I don't try to hide information". In fact, the French prodigy has already settled in Italy to familiarise himself with his new surroundings.
When asked about his relationship with his other rivals, he replies: "I get on well with Pierre [Gasly] and of course I also know the F2 drivers who have moved up to F1 very well. These guys have been part of my life since we were kids. We've raced in the same championships, we've chased each other around the track and watched our progression from karting to F1. It's great to be on the grid with people like that."
05
His first F1 season and beyond
In Sprint Qualifying at the Chinese Grand Prix
© Clive Rose/Getty Images/Red Bull Content Pool
Fifteen races into his rookie Formula One season, Isack Hadjar secured his first podium finish at the Dutch Grand Prix. Hadjar unexpectedly finished fourth at qualifying the day before, his career-best position on the grid, and he did not waste his starting position. The decisive moment in the grand prix happened when championship contender Lando Norris had to retire with an oil leak, promoting the newbie driver into the third position.
“It feels a bit unreal,” said Hadjar. “What was most surprising for me was keeping that fourth place for the whole race."
Hadjar is now the third Frenchman to currently be competing in Formula One, along with Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon. Although he's always been considered a promising candidate for the premier class, he's been able to take it one step at a time. Today, he's particularly grateful for the influence his family had on his development. "They were always by my side, the whole thing is a family project. You can't decide on your own at the age of seven to start karting. You need the right support, the right people around you. My parents have always been smart. We always specifically chose the championships we wanted to take part in. I think we were smart about it."
"My goal is to surpass myself", Hadjar said earlier in the season. "I realise that I don't have a car that I can win with straight away. I want to make such an impression on the track that people say: 'He's got what it takes'." His Dutch GP podium left little doubt he does.
Hadjar has made it to F1 one step at a time
© Clive Rose/Getty Images/Red Bull Content Pool
