After a long stretch without much presence, France is back in the Formula 1 mix, with three drivers set to be in the spotlight come 2026.
Isack Hadjar might be the most intriguing of the bunch. He’s just stepped into a big role at Red Bull, teaming up with Max Verstappen.
He spent only one season getting his bearings at Racing Bulls before being called up for another new start under the upcoming regulations.
Nobody’s tipping him for a title push just yet. But if he settles in quickly, there’s every chance he could grab a win or two along the way.
Hadjar Surprised By Lewis Hamilton During His Rookie Season
Reflecting on his first year in F1, Hadjar spoke about how often he found himself on track with Lewis Hamilton and what that meant to him personally.
“I didn’t expect to be so close so early. I had lots of battles with him,” said Hadjar. “I didn’t expect it to happen so quickly because I was expecting him to run away from me.”
“He was maybe not as competitive as in previous years, but it was still crazy for me because I always looked up to him as an idol and shared track space with him.”
Looking ahead, Hadjar sees his partnership with Verstappen as a big opportunity for growth. It’s something he believes will make him stronger behind the wheel.
Isack Hadjar says he’d pick Ayrton Senna over Alain Prost as a dream F1 teammate
Hadjar’s promotion to Red Bull came with plenty of advice from Helmut Marko, who was clear that results wouldn’t come right away. The message: don’t expect immediate wins. Settling in and finding his feet will be a process. Verstappen’s experience gives him the early edge, but that gap should close as Hadjar adapts.
He was recently asked on the Talking Bull podcast which past driver he’d choose as an ideal teammate. Despite his French background, his choice wasn’t what many might have expected.
“I’m still going for Lewis [Hamilton]. Ayrton [Senna, if they’re not on the grid],” Hadjar said.
“Unreal. Legend [Prost]. Because again, huge Senna fan, and as a kid, I was rooting for Ayrton, and as I grew up, more and more appreciating what Prost did, actually,” Hadjar said.
“You actually look at his career; he has had the most beautiful career in terms of stats and teams he has joined. He has won with all the great teams; he had all the toughest teammates.”
Hadjar still has areas to work on after just one season in Formula 1. There’s room to grow before he’s considered a complete driver – but learning from someone like Prost could only help.
Isack Hadjar shares the best story about Alain Prost from his 2025 season
Ted Kravitz has openly admitted he’s worried about how Hadjar will handle being paired with one of the sport’s all-time greats.
Verstappen’s relentless drive has worn down plenty of teammates before, but Hadjar seems to have a solid support system in place to help him through it.
Off the circuit, life doesn’t seem too bad for Hadjar. In 2025, he shared a special moment with his father that will stick with him for a long time.
“My dad is a physicist, and he always wanted to meet Alain Prost because he’s the only like driver [with the nickname professor]. He was here when I gave him my helmet,” said Hadjar.
“Actually, the best moment was seeing my dad, who actually watched Prost live racing. He got to spend a bit of time with him, and I was so hyped for my dad, it was the best moment.”
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