Red Bull Racing is shaking up it’s driver lineup for the 2026 Formula 1 season, announcing today that Isack Hadjar will partner wiht reigning World Champion Max Verstappen. The move sees the 21-year-old Frenchman promoted from the Red Bull’s sister team, racing Bulls, replacing Yuki Tsunoda, and continues a pattern of teammate changes for the dominant Verstappen as 2016. the decision comes after a strong debut season for Hadjar, marked by consistent point-scoring and a podium finish, signaling Red Bull’s intent to build for the future while maintaining its competitive edge.
Formel 1
Isack Hadjar will join Max Verstappen as the second Red Bull Racing driver for the upcoming Formula 1 World Championship season. Red Bull Racing announced the move on Tuesday. The 21-year-old Frenchman, previously with the sister team Racing Bulls, replaces Yuki Tsunoda, who took over the seat from Liam Lawson back in March.
Hadjar secured his first career podium finish with a third-place result at the Dutch Grand Prix earlier this season. In 22 Grand Prix starts since his debut at the Australian Grand Prix this year, Hadjar has accumulated 51 points. Eighteen-year-old Brit Arvid Lindblad will take over Hadjar’s seat at Racing Bulls.
Hadjar becomes the seventh teammate Verstappen has had at Red Bull since the team’s transition from Toro Rosso in 2016. None of the previous drivers – Daniel Ricciardo (AUS), Pierre Gasly (FRA), Alex Albon (THA), Sergio Perez (MEX), Lawson, and Tsunoda – have been able to consistently outperform the four-time World Champion.
A Steep Challenge Against Verstappen
Over 205 races, Verstappen has finished ahead of his Red Bull teammates 159 times, boasting a remarkable 77.5 percent success rate. Hadjar faces a significant challenge, having openly expressed his admiration for Formula 1 and its stars as a youth, as evidenced by a social media post from the 2019 Spanish Grand Prix.
Hadjar expressed his excitement about the opportunity. “I feel ready for Red Bull Racing and am happy and proud that they feel the same way,” Hadjar said in a Red Bull statement. “It’s a great step to work with the best and learn from Max – I’m really looking forward to it.” Hadjar also holds Algerian citizenship.
With one race remaining in the current season, Verstappen is still in contention for his fifth consecutive World Championship title. Tsunoda currently sits 15th in the driver standings. He will remain with Red Bull as a reserve driver, marking the end of Japanese representation in the F1 starting grid for now.
