Laurent Mekies says Isack Hadjar has done “everything right” since joining Red Bull, but believes the real test of his fit will come when the 2026 season gets underway.
Hadjar was promoted from Racing Bulls to replace Yuki Tsunoda for the 2026 F1 season after a standout rookie year, which included his first podium finish. The move gave him a shot at Red Bull’s main line-up and came off an impressive showing in his debut campaign.
The Frenchman took third place at Zandvoort, also qualifying fourth – both personal bests for him. He became known for his qualifying pace during that season, reaching Q3 in two-thirds of all races and falling out in Q1 just twice all year.
Mekies has praised Hadjar’s commitment off the track as well. The driver moved to England and spent significant time at Red Bull’s factory, even staying around during F1’s two pre-season tests in Bahrain. But Mekies admits that they haven’t yet seen how he’ll cope with pressure.
Red Bull need to support Hadjar under the pressure
Pre-season testing didn’t go exactly to plan, with Hadjar crashing during the Barcelona shakedown and losing time in Bahrain because of a hydraulic problem. Even so, Mekies has said that Hadjar appears “calm” as he gets ready for his first race with Red Bull at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on 8 March.
Hadjar still needs to be put under more pressure before Red Bull can know if he’s ready to start alongside Verstappen. That means 2026 will need time for Mekies’ squad to figure out what their new signing can offer.
Mekies told Motorsport.com: “So far, he’s done everything right – demonstrating the right approach in terms of commitment and personality. He moved to England immediately, is at the Milton Keynes headquarters every two days, and is working closely with the team.
“Then it will be up to us to create the right environment around him when the pressure and expectations arrive, but he has the personality and preparation to do a good job.”
Hadjar eases into Red Bull’s 2026 car in Bahrain testing, but the spotlight is only getting brighter
During pre-season testing in Bahrain, Hadjar began to get a feel for Red Bull’s new car, particularly Verstappen’s unique approach to energy management. The debut of the Red Bull-Ford power unit showed promising energy efficiency and deployment throughout the sessions.
Still, there’s plenty of work ahead if Hadjar wants to make a real impact and avoid repeating Sergio Perez’s struggles from 2024. Perez was replaced after contributing just 152 points out of Red Bull’s 589 that season.
Liam Lawson stepped in but didn’t score any points in his brief stint, while Yuki Tsunoda added just 31 over 22 races. Hadjar joins at a time when the sport is resetting with new regulations, which should play to his advantage – but it won’t count for much if he can’t handle what comes with it.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
