Hadjar targets 2026 championship fight with Red Bull

Isack Hadjar has set a remarkably bold target for his first season driving for Red Bull, predicting he will be in the mix for the 2026 World Championship. The French-Algerian driver steps up to the senior team amidst a massive regulatory overhaul, yet remains undeterred by the dual challenge of mastering new machinery and a new environment.

Why it matters:

Red Bull has historically struggled to maximize the potential of its second car, often leaving performance on the table compared to the lead driver. Hadjar’s immediate title aspirations signal a shift in confidence and expectation, while Team Principal Laurent Mekies has publicly committed to providing the necessary support to end that trend and ensure the team operates as a cohesive unit.

The details:

• Hadjar arrives after a solid rookie campaign with Racing Bulls, finishing 12th in the standings with 51 points and securing a maiden podium at the Dutch Grand Prix.
• The "Reset": Mekies emphasized that the 2026 regulation changes offer a clean slate for extracting performance. He noted that while progress was made with Yuki Tsunoda, it wasn't enough, necessitating a better job with the second car.
• Total Commitment: Hadjar is taking the challenge seriously, relocating to London and approaching the role with "maximum intensity" from day one. Mekies described him as humble but fully aware of the magnitude of the task ahead.

What's next:

The 2026 season begins rapidly, with the Australian Grand Prix scheduled for March 6-8, followed immediately by China the subsequent week. Hadjar will have little time to settle in before his predictions are put to the test on track.