As Isack Hadjar battles for the Formula 2 championship, he remains vigilant about developments within Red Bull’s Formula 1 driver line-ups. Red Bull has confirmed Sergio Perez alongside Max Verstappen, while Yuki Tsunoda will stay put. Liam Lawson, having impressed recently, is also expected to be given a seat as Daniel Ricciardo’s replacement.
However, Perez’s underwhelming performance—scoring just 48 points over the last 15 races compared to Verstappen’s 257—has prompted Red Bull to explore other avenues for the future. This could include promoting Lawson to the main team or even making an unexpected move for rookie Franco Colapinto to join Verstappen in his debut full F1 season.
Leading the Red Bull Junior Team, Hadjar is a strong contender for the F2 title and hopes the situation will unfold in his favour. “I would say my chances are alive, at least,” the Frenchman shares with Autosport. “It’s not entirely up to me. There’s much happening at RB and Red Bull; anything can happen. I’m next in line, so I’m hoping to be ready for next year.”
F2 Performance and F1 Aspirations
Hadjar’s ambitions may be boosted by Colapinto and Oliver Bearman’s impressive F1 tryouts this year, despite their inexperience. Hadjar has outperformed both in the feeder series. “It shows that our generation is strong,” the 20-year-old asserts. He highlights the evolving perception of experience versus raw talent in F1, stating, “If you’re fast, you’re fast.”
Despite limited F1 testing experience—primarily relying on Red Bull’s simulator—Hadjar admits he might struggle to perform at the same level as Bearman or Lawson. “Jumping into an F1 car now would be much more challenging for me than it was for them,” he acknowledges.
Challenges and Determination
As Colapinto has already scored twice for Williams, Hadjar recognises Red Bull’s focus on speed, yet stresses, “I’ve been in the programme for three years, second in F2, and I’m the reserve for the team.” With two F2 rounds remaining in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, Hadjar aims to secure the title and make his case for a 2025 F1 seat.
After a disappointing rookie season with Hitech, Hadjar found a better fit with Campos, winning four races this year. He reflects on the change, “I’m much more comfortable at Campos compared to my time with Hitech.”
Navigating Setbacks and Looking Forward
Despite recent setbacks such as a slow pitstop and a crash at Monza and Baku, which cost him the championship lead, Hadjar remains optimistic. “We’ve had a tough season with many downs, but I’m pleased with my overall performance,” he states.
Hadjar acknowledges the importance of making the most of opportunities, having scored the majority of his points in feature races. However, if relegated to a reserve driver role next season, he remains practical. “I wouldn’t be happy about it, but I’d do it and look ahead,” confirms Hadjar, demonstrating his resilience and commitment to achieving his F1 dream.
