Max Verstappen is the one driver on the F1 grid whose life revolves around racing. In 2026, the Red Bull driver will have a new teammate in Isack Hadjar, who seems equally obsessed with motorsport and reminds his former F1 team boss of Verstappen.
Hadjar’s rookie F1 season in 2025 with Racing Bulls impressed the whole F1 paddock. The French-Algerian racer began the season on a low after crashing out on the formation lap before the wet Australian GP. But after that mistake on his debut, which saw him crying while returning to his garage, it was onwards and upwards for the RB driver.
Isack Hadjar finished in the points in ten races, which was impressive considering the midfield pace of his VCARB 02. The 21-year-old’s highlight of 2025 was his first career podium at the Dutch GP. Little did he know he would earn a promotion to Red Bull for 2026 and be teammates with the winner of that race, home hero Max Verstappen.
Racing Bulls CEO Peter Bayer showered praise on Hadjar in a recent interview with RacingNews365. Bayer pulled back the curtain on the young driver’s deep passion for racing, saying:
“He is one of the hardest working drivers I have ever seen. He is extremely dedicated and moved to Faenza to be close to the engineers, to really be on top of things. I know we shouldn’t compare, but honestly he reminds me of Max in some ways.”
Isack Hadjar will be Max Verstappen’s fourth teammate in less than 18 months. The four-time F1 champion had Sergio Perez as his teammate at the end of 2024, Liam Lawson for the first two races of 2025, and Yuki Tsunoda for the rest of the season.
Isack Hadjar aims to be the first Red Bull driver to challenge Max Verstappen well
The only time Max Verstappen had a teammate consistently challenging him at Red Bull was Daniel Ricciardo before 2018. Sergio Perez was also temporarily on equal footing at the start of the 2023 season, but it didn’t last more than a handful races.
Liam Lawson succumbed quickly and Red Bull gave him no more than two races to prove his worth, a decision Verstappen was against. Then came Yuki Tsunoda, who gradually improved over the course of 2025, but not enough to warrant retaining his seat.
Isack Hadjar has a strong will to not be another victim of the second Red Bull seat alongside Max Verstappen. Talking about what would be a respectable achievement at the senior team in his eyes, the 21-year-old said (via GPblog):
“Fighting for victories. Being there every weekend. Being the first driver in a long time to do a really great job alongside Max.”
Red Bull and Racing Bulls will unveil their 2026 F1 liveries on January 15 at an event held by their engine partner Ford in Detroit.
Read More: Mercedes has too many red flags to be considered a runaway championship favorite in 2026
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