Isack Hadjar 'Fired Up' by Red Bull-Verstappen Prospects, Coulthard Warns of Pressure

Isack Hadjar is strongly linked to a Red Bull seat alongside Max Verstappen for the 2026 F1 season, a prospect that has the young driver "fired up." However, former F1 driver David Coulthard warns that the pressure at Red Bull presents a "very different challenge" compared to his current role at Racing Bulls.

Why it matters:

Red Bull is actively seeking a strong second driver to support Max Verstappen, a role previous teammates have consistently struggled to fill. Hadjar's potential move would signify a major shift in Red Bull's driver lineup ahead of the new 2026 regulations and car designs.

The big picture:

Hadjar, a rookie in F1 2025, has impressed with his performance, currently placing second in Red Bull's internal driver rankings. He has notably outscored both Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda, securing a maiden podium at the Dutch Grand Prix. This comes as previous Red Bull junior drivers struggled to adapt to the challenging characteristics of the RB21.

Speculation suggests Hadjar is the frontrunner to partner Verstappen in 2026, while Lawson is expected to remain at Racing Bulls. Yuki Tsunoda's future within the Red Bull family remains uncertain.

What Hadjar is saying:

Hadjar is bullish about the opportunity to compete at the highest level.

• "I just wanna test myself and see how good I am – to fight the best in the world."
• "Now you’re telling me that I get the opportunity to drive alongside the best driver in the world in the same machinery. This fires me up."
• "That’s what means the most to me is to prove to myself I’m the best, and my facing Max in the same car is the best way to find out."

The warning:

Despite Hadjar's strong showing, David Coulthard offers a word of caution regarding the intense environment at a top team like Red Bull.

• Coulthard acknowledges Hadjar's "excellence" in his current role.
• He cautions: "many drivers can look good with a certain amount of freedom and lack of pressure. Once you put them in the pressure of expectation, some of them don’t shine. So that’s what we don’t know right now."

Against the odds:

Hadjar has already demonstrated resilience in his nascent F1 career. He famously crashed out of his F1 debut in Australia on the formation lap, an incident Helmut Marko dubbed "embarrassing." However, Hadjar has since performed consistently, viewing the Melbourne moment as "part of my story" and "character building."

What's next:

The 2026 season will introduce all-new cars and engines, making the driver pairing crucial for Red Bull. If Hadjar secures the coveted seat, his performance and mental fortitude will be under intense scrutiny as he navigates the demanding world of a top-tier F1 team.