James Hinchcliffe spots one ‘natural ability’ in Isack Hadjar that he shares with Max Verstappen

Isack Hadjar has caught everyone’s attention in his debut season in Formula 1 with some impressive performances with Racing Bulls.

The Frenchman has arguably been the best rookie of 2025 thus far, as he sits ninth in the standings with 21 points. That view landed Karun Chandhok in trouble with Mercedes, as he feels Hadjar has been better that their talent Kimi Antonelli.

But the 20-year-old’s talent is undeniable, making regular Q3 appearances and frequently scoring points in his VCARB 02. Only Helmut Marko expected Hadjar’s performances, says Racing Bulls boss Laurent Mekies, who did not see the Frenchman being so ‘extraordinary’.

Hadjar has learned from hero Lewis Hamilton after studying the seven-time champion’s onboard footage. His strong pace over one lap and impressive racecraft have made him a serious threat in the midfield.

The Frenchman has dominated teammate Liam Lawson since his demotion from Red Bull. After nine races in 2025, Hadjar has proven to be the second-fastest driver within the team’s setup behind Max Verstappen.

James Hinchcliffe says Isack Hadjar can ‘drive around anything’ – similar to Max Verstappen

While Verstappen’s title chances suffered a huge blow in Barcelona after he was demoted to 10th with a 10-second penalty for an collision with George Russell, the Dutchman remains a contender. Despite driving an inferior RB21, he has taken his car to three poles and two wins thus far in 2025.

His driving style and aggressiveness behind the wheel have allowed him to drive around any issue he faces, often getting his car into places it should not be. Writing in his column for the official F1 website, former Canadian IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe has seen that trait in Hadjar.

He says that the Frenchman has a ‘natural ability’ with being able to ‘drive around anything’. Hinchcliffe has pointed out that Hadjar’s ‘Achilles’ heel’ has not been exposed yet.

“Five out of the eight races he has competed in he has been in the points, with two of the remaining three being 11th place results. This record shows not just the pace but crucially the consistency teams are really looking for in their drivers.

“We haven’t found his Achilles heel yet, in the way that we know that Lando Norris will struggle more at a front limited track, or Lewis Hamilton can’t maximise his driving style if the rear axle doesn’t allow him to brake the way he likes.

“So far Hadjar has been able to drive around anything. Sure, that could be a car characteristic, but it just as likely could be a natural ability.

“He has also shown a tremendous versatility by scoring points at all types of tracks, from Suzuka to Monaco. And he has done it through all the distraction of what was happening in the adjacent garage.”

READ MORE: Who is Racing Bulls 2025 F1 driver Isack Hadjar? Everything you need to know

Is Isack Hadjar ready for a promotion to Red Bull?

Naturally, Hadjar’s form in 2025 has prompted speculation that he could be next in line to race for Red Bull. Yuki Tsunoda is out of contract in 2025 and is currently struggling to find performance out of the RB21.

Hadjar is now being favoured by Red Bull to race for the team in 2026 alongside Verstappen. However, many have questioned whether a promotion would be too soon for the Frenchman.

David Croft says Hadjar is not ready for Red Bull, despite being similar to Verstappen. Given the struggles of Lawson and Tsunoda, Franck Montagny is begging Red Bull not to promote Hadjar as he needs time to develop at Racing Bulls.

It seems the Milton Keynes outfit are taking that on board. Marko will be patient with Hadjar after seeing how much Tsunoda has struggling since being thrust into Red Bull from the Japanese GP onwards.