Source: Official Team Post via X
Max Verstappen Sees Isack Hadjar as His Heir at Red Bull
Max Verstappen is backing Isack Hadjar as the future lead driver for Red Bull, should Verstappen retire. Hadjar has already shown promise with podium finishes and out-qualifying Verstappen once this season.
Max Verstappen has named his potential successor at Red Bull, and it's none other than Isack Hadjar. The young Frenchman has been making waves since joining Red Bull this season, having already stood on the podium twice and played a crucial role in the team's first double podium finish since 2014 at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
The second seat at Red Bull has been something of a revolving door since Daniel Ricciardo's departure in 2018. Drivers like Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Sergio Perez, Liam Lawson, and Yuki Tsunoda have tried their hand but struggled to match Verstappen's accomplishments. Only Perez managed to clinch a Grand Prix victory with the team, while Albon secured a couple of podium finishes.
Hadjar, however, is showing promise. In his 14 starts with Red Bull, he's already achieved two top-three finishes and even out-qualified Verstappen on merit at the Japanese Grand Prix. With the exception of an issue-plagued Singapore Grand Prix, he's consistently qualified within the top ten.
At just 22, Hadjar has emerged as the closest competitor to Verstappen within the team since Perez's more successful days. His performance has earned him another season with Red Bull, a decision that team principal Laurent Mekies supports wholeheartedly. "Since joining us at the start of the year, he has been superb on and off track," Mekies remarked, noting this is only Hadjar's second season in Formula 1.
Looking forward, Hadjar is set to race alongside Verstappen into the 2027 season and possibly beyond, having recently signed an extension through 2030. Verstappen, a four-time world champion, seems to think Hadjar could eventually fill his shoes as the team's primary driver. "Isack, he's still a very young guy," Verstappen commented to Canal+, highlighting Hadjar's long-standing involvement with the Red Bull program.
Verstappen acknowledged the natural progression of time and talent, noting that "at one point you need new talent coming into the team to try and take over." He praised Hadjar as a teammate and expressed hope that Hadjar could be the one to take the reins in the future. "He has a few years on me, so hopefully he can stay around for a bit longer," Verstappen concluded.
Hadjar's future at Red Bull looks promising, as the team continues its tradition of nurturing young talent. Whether he'll rise to lead the team as Verstappen predicts remains to be seen, but the foundations are certainly being laid.