Hadjar Alongside Verstappen in 2026? Marko Comments on Possible Red Bull Line-Up

Isack Hadjar made a strong impression during last weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix. The French Racing Bulls driver is a potential candidate for the seat alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull Racing. However, will it really happen? Helmut Marko clarifies when a decision regarding the young driver will be made.

Why it matters:

Red Bull frequently changes its second driver alongside Verstappen. Isack Hadjar has been mentioned as a possible candidate for the 2026 season, when new regulations come into effect. Securing a talented junior driver for the long term is crucial for Red Bull's future competitiveness, especially with an eye on the new engine regulations.

The details:

Marko was asked by Oe24 whether Hadjar is ready to race alongside Verstappen in Red Bull Racing’s team next year. The Austrian had the following to say: “We'll see. We have until October to make this decision.” Marko also previously stated that the decision regarding Red Bull’s second driver will be made around the Mexico City Grand Prix, scheduled for the weekend of October 24th to 26th.

At Zandvoort, Hadjar surprisingly qualified fourth. He later advanced another spot during the race as Lando Norris was forced to retire. This performance highlighted his potential.

Marko's assessment:

When asked about Hadjar's personality and what makes the French-Algerian Racing Bulls driver stand out, Marko replied: “He's a funny guy. And highly intelligent: his mother is a deputy HR manager at a company with 4,000 employees, his father is a nuclear physicist.”

Regarding why Hadjar wasn't chosen immediately for the 2025 season – when Liam Lawson started next to Verstappen before being replaced by Yuki Tsunoda – Marko explained: “Because he needs a certain routine for that. Pressure is much greater in a top team, as you also see at Mercedes (with Andrea Kimi Antonelli).” This suggests a deliberate strategy to allow Hadjar to gain more experience before a potential promotion.