CEO Sees 'Verstappen-like' Traits in New Red Bull Driver Hadjar

Isack Hadjar is set to partner Max Verstappen at Red Bull in 2025, and already, the French rookie is drawing high-profile comparisons to his four-time champion teammate. Racing Bulls CEO Peter Bayer, who worked closely with Hadjar last season, sees the same raw dedication and 'all-about-racing' mentality in the 21-year-old that defined a young Verstappen, suggesting he may be uniquely equipped for the challenge ahead.

Why it matters:

The Red Bull second seat is notoriously one of the most high-pressure roles in motorsport, with Verstappen having consistently outperformed and mentally dismantled previous teammates. Bayer's comments suggest Hadjar possesses the crucial psychological resilience and singular focus required to handle the unique challenge of racing alongside a driver of Verstappen's caliber, potentially signaling a more stable and competitive driver pairing for the team.

The details:

• Direct Comparison: Bayer directly compared Hadjar's mindset to Verstappen's, noting his casual appearance and singular focus: "He walks in with his shorts, his team kit, and all he's worried about is that he wants to go racing."
• Intense Work Ethic: The 21-year-old's commitment was highlighted by his decision to move to Faenza, Italy, to be closer to the Racing Bulls engineers, showcasing a deep level of dedication Bayer called him "one of the hardest-working drivers I've seen."
• Racer's Instinct: Bayer recalled Hadjar's eagerness after practice sessions, saying he'd want to 'go straight into qualifying,' demonstrating an impatience and passion for pure competition that mirrors Verstappen's own.
• Proven Resilience: Despite a difficult start, including a heavy crash on the formation lap in Australia, Hadjar showed impressive maturity to keep his trajectory upward, remaining 'hungry, focused, disciplined' throughout his debut season.

Looking Ahead:

The real test for Hadjar will begin when he lines up on the grid alongside Verstappen. While possessing a similar mindset is a promising start, translating that into on-track performance and avoiding the fate of previous Red Bull teammates will be his ultimate challenge. All eyes will be on this new dynamic to see if Hadjar can genuinely push the champion or if he'll fall into the familiar supporting role.