Isack Hadjar has been warned that joining Red Bull could potentially “destroy” his Formula 1 career.
During the Sky Sports F1 Show, Simon Lazenby, Karun Chandhok, and David Croft discussed the current situation at the Milton Keynes outfit as they struggle to find a suitable team-mate for four-time champion Max Verstappen.
After parting ways with Sergio Perez at the end of 2024, Red Bull signed rookie driver Liam Lawson for 2025. However, after just two race weekends, the New Zealander found himself replaced by Yuki Tsunoda. Since stepping up ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, Tsunoda has also struggled to extract performance from the RB21.
For years, many have argued that the Red Bull cars have been built to suit Verstappen’s driving style, meaning that many drivers who have been successful with other teams have struggled to match or sometimes even come close to his level of performance, as we’ve seen this season.
Now, with rumours of Verstappen potentially looking for a more competitive drive, as well as the fact that he is dangerously close to a race ban after accumulating 11 penalty points out of the 12-point limit within a year, the questions are now being asked about how competitive Red Bull would be if they don’t have the Dutchman.
Croft argued that the team could look to target a driver who has a similar driving style to Verstappen.
“There is one driver who Racing Bulls think has a very similar style to Max Verstappen,” Croft explained. “I don’t think he’s ready yet, and as I say, Yuki Tsunoda is going nowhere this season, but is Isack Hadjar the answer to their problems?”
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls, Pirelli Barcelona test
Photo by: Pirelli
Lazenby was quick to interject, responding, “If I was Isack Hadjar I would be saying, ‘no, no, no.’ I would be running a mile from that at the moment. Why would you potentially destroy your career, because it’s destroyed everybody else’s career up to this point. I mean, some have bounced back, and I’m thinking Alex Albon, I’m thinking Pierre Gasly to some extent, but all the others…”
“If I was Isack Hadjar,” Chandhok added. “I’d be trying to hang on to the Racing Bulls seat and then try and get myself a deal at Ferrari or Aston or anywhere but Red Bull.”
Croft suggested that Hadjar’s driving style might give him an easier time with the team compared to some of his predecessors.
“But if Isack Hadjar is the closest thing to Max Verstappen then he has the easier task of adapting to that car which has been designed and developed more to Max’s liking.”
