Isack Hadjar is set to become Max Verstappen’s new Red Bull teammate in 2026, with the move confirmed on Tuesday. The promotion comes after an impressive first season with Racing Bulls.
Hadjar was initially hesitant about stepping into such a high-profile role so early in his career, but over time, he grew more comfortable with the idea and now feels ready for the step up.
He finished third at the Dutch Grand Prix, becoming the first driver to score a podium in their debut season for Faenza since Sebastian Vettel in 2008.
As the season heads towards its conclusion, Hadjar sits inside the top 10 of the drivers’ standings and has outperformed his more experienced teammate Liam Lawson throughout the year. He also leads all non-top-four team drivers in Q3 appearances with 15 so far this season.
Christian Horner didn’t have Isack Hadjar in his 2025 plans
It’s surprising there was ever hesitation over promoting Hadjar, given how strong his season has been. Before he was let go in July, Christian Horner hadn’t been sold on the idea of putting Hadjar into a Racing Bulls seat for 2025.
Even though Red Bull makes its lineup decisions as a group, it’s clear Horner wasn’t fully convinced the Parisian was ready. That only changed when Sergio Perez lost his seat and the team had to reshuffle.
Liam Lawson moved up to Red Bull, and Hadjar took the last available spot on the grid. It turned out to be the right call—Hadjar proved he belonged right away.
If Red Bull had kept him in F2 for another year, they might have found themselves short of good options to partner Verstappen. Privately, before his exit, Horner had already come around to promoting Hadjar. The decision had been set in motion months earlier.
Christian Horner’s thoughts on new Racing Bulls signing Arvid Lindblad
Arvid Lindblad’s promotion to F1 comes in a similar fashion to Hadjar’s rise the previous year, following a vacancy created by movement within the team.
At just 18, Lindblad is currently sixth in Formula 2. While that doesn’t match Hadjar’s results at the same age, it’s worth noting that Hadjar had more time to develop at that level.
There are those within the junior ranks who feel Lindblad may be stepping up too soon, and some believe Red Bull are taking a significant risk.
Despite those doubts, Christian Horner has been openly supportive of Lindblad. Helmut Marko has also backed the decision, choosing to overlook internal hesitations in favour of giving another young driver an early opportunity.
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