Isack Hadjar hailed as 'one of the men of the year' in standout Red Bull debut

Isack Hadjar is earning recognition as a rare standout alongside Max Verstappen, with former Formula 1 driver Timo Glock naming him "one of the men of the year." The Frenchman's recent charge from 21st to sixth at the Belgian Grand Prix, coupled with his willingness to directly support and challenge his teammate, has silenced early doubts about his promotion to Red Bull.

Why it matters:

• Red Bull has struggled to field a consistent second driver since Sergio Perez's departure, making Hadjar's immediate impact essential for its constructor championship hopes.
• His ability to run at Verstappen's pace without being intimidated addresses a strategic weakness that has plagued the team for multiple seasons.
• The tow he provided Verstappen at Spa, boosting the Dutchman from sixth to second on the grid, demonstrated a teamwork dynamic that has often been missing from the garage.

The details:

• Glock told Sky Deutschland that Hadjar is "up for the challenge" against Verstappen, citing his qualifying parity and outstanding race pace across the 2026 season.
• Hadjar has scored points in seven of ten Grands Prix and became the first teammate to outqualify Verstappen on merit at the British Grand Prix.
• At Spa, Hadjar recovered from a back-of-the-grid start to finish sixth after executing a complex strategy that involved two pit stops in two laps before settling into an effective one-stop race.
• Team principal Laurent Mekies called the Belgian Grand Prix Hadjar's best performance for the team, stating his pace was "top three" throughout the weekend.
• The rookie had previously signaled his potential at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, qualifying third while Verstappen crashed in Q1.

The big picture:

While Verstappen remains the undisputed leader at Red Bull, Hadjar's rapid adaptation suggests the team may finally have the balanced driver pairing it has lacked. His combination of raw speed and tactical cooperation positions him as more than a mere supporting act. If he maintains this trajectory through the second half of the season, Hadjar could redefine the standard for a Verstappen teammate and prove decisive in Red Bull's 2026 title fight.