Isack Hadjar’s biggest supporter in Formula 1 has always been Helmut Marko, ever since his promotion to the sport in 2025. But as he prepares for a new challenge with Red Bull in 2026, he will no longer be by his side.
Marko left Red Bull at the end of the 2025 season, adding his name to a list that includes Christian Horner, Adrian Newey and Jonathan Wheatley. The Austrian had been instrumental in Hadjar’s career and played a significant part in his promotion for the upcoming campaign.
With Yuki Tsunoda under pressure to hold onto his seat, Marko pushed for Hadjar’s inclusion following the Racing Bulls driver’s maiden F1 podium at Zandvoort. It was at that race where Marko informed him of the decision.
This didn’t sit well with Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies, who insisted publicly that nothing would be finalised until after the season. Still, it showed how much faith Marko had in the then-21-year-old.
Helmut Marko told Isack Hadjar he can’t walk into Red Bull expecting to become world champion right away
During an appearance on the James Allen on F1 podcast, journalist Ronald Vording shared that Marko had often reminded Hadjar not to join Red Bull with immediate title ambitions.
“There’s one moment that comes to my mind,” Vording recalled. “I think it was Monza when we talked about the chance for 2026 and the reset and regulations. And I said: ‘OK, do you think that with a reset, that it will be easier?’
“And he sat back a little and said: ‘Much easier, yeah, a lot easier because all the issues with the second Red Bull car that we talked about, they will all be gone. They don’t exist anymore.’
“But you still have Max Verstappen on the other side of the garage. And if you look at the data after a run where you thought you’d put in a good lap but are still four or five-tenths down, staying mentally strong becomes crucial.
“He shouldn’t go there, and that’s what Helmut Marko — OK he’s gone now — but that’s what Helmut Marko already told him multiple times,” Vording continued. “He said: ‘You should not go there with a mentality to become world champion immediately.”
Is Isack Hadjar the next Red Bull driver to fall short?
Hadjar has shown that he’s a real talent and deserving of a move to Red Bull. But history suggests that no driver has come close to Verstappen, let alone beaten him in the same car, and the Frenchman could suffer a similar fate.
The second car has become something of a poisoned chalice lately, with Verstappen scoring all but 30 of Red Bull’s points in 2025. For Hadjar to have any chance at success, he’ll need a car that suits him and is truly equal to his teammate’s.
With former Racing Bulls boss Mekies now leading the team, some of those issues may have already been addressed. Even without Marko, Hadjar will have the right support system around him.
But expectations are high at Red Bull, and like others before him, he could face demotion if results don’t come quickly. If he can’t keep pace with Verstappen early on, there will be pressure from below – especially with Liam Lawson waiting in the wings for 2026.
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