2026-05-02 09:35:25
Isack Hadjar set his sights on driving for Red Bull as soon as he arrived in F1 last year.
The French driver was chosen to be four-time world champion Max Verstappen’s team-mate after an impressive rookie campaign at junior outfit Racing Bulls and says it was the “trajectory” he envisaged.
Hadjar told Esquire Middle East: “That was always my goal when getting to Formula One. My trajectory was to reach Red Bull, and if it only took a year that is what it took.
“Last year was my best year of racing in my career, and if they promoted me then it’s because they know what they are doing, so it worked out perfectly.”
Hadjar’s predecessors alongside Verstappen at Red Bull – Sergio Perez, Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda – have all been crushed by the task of trying keep pace with the Dutch great but the driver insists that he isn’t fazed by external pressure.
He said: “The pressure from other people for me to deliver doesn’t scare me, because I hold myself to even higher expectations. I am here to do one thing, and that is beat everyone else.
“In fact, I probably felt more pressure last year (at Racing Bulls), because I was a rookie, and you only have one chance to prove yourself so you need to deliver fast.
“Now with Red Bull Racing it feels different, I have proved that I can do it, and I know I will deliver.”
However, Hadjar has noticed a stark difference in approach at Red Bull – even though the team has suffered a disappointing start to the season.
He said: “You really feel the difference, to be honest. The garage is constantly moving, and it is very obvious that mediocrity isn’t accepted there.
“Even though the team is going through a difficult moment, you can see it on everyone’s face that they know they are not where they belong.
“The will to win that the team has is not something I have ever experienced before, which is probably why they have won so many championships.”
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