Liam Lawson Offers Crucial Advice to Isack Hadjar for Potential Red Bull Promotion

Liam Lawson has offered candid advice to his Racing Bulls teammate, Isack Hadjar, amidst widespread rumors linking Hadjar to a Red Bull seat for the 2026 season. Hadjar, currently enjoying a strong second F1 campaign, could potentially partner Max Verstappen, a significant step up that Lawson himself experienced briefly.

Why it matters:

• Hadjar’s potential promotion to Red Bull, in only his second F1 season, highlights Red Bull’s aggressive driver development program and the immense pressure placed on young talent.
• Lawson's unique perspective, having briefly raced for Red Bull, provides invaluable insight into the challenges and expectations of joining a top-tier team alongside a dominant champion like Verstappen.
• This move could reshape the driver market for 2026, creating opportunities and challenges for other aspiring drivers within the Red Bull ecosystem.

The Details:

• Hadjar’s Performance: After a challenging start with a formation lap crash in Australia, Hadjar has consistently impressed Red Bull’s senior figures and the F1 paddock with his qualifying pace and regular point finishes.
• Lawson’s Experience: Lawson started the season alongside Verstappen at Red Bull but was demoted to the sister team after just two races. He emphasizes that while his stint was short, the key is preparation and self-belief.
• Advice for Hadjar: Lawson’s primary advice is to “ignore everything that’s really being said” about the perceived difficulty of being at Red Bull. He believes it’s “over-talked about” how tough the environment is.
• Self-Confidence: Lawson stresses the importance of self-confidence, stating, “We all have to have enough self-confidence to be in the sport in the first place. We don’t come here thinking that other people are better than us. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be here.”
• Focus on the Job: He advises Hadjar to “just focus on the job and focus on preparing the best he can and not listening to everything that’s said about what it’s going to be like, because at the end of the day, nobody actually knows, only the guys that have done it.”

The big picture:

Red Bull has a history of promoting young drivers from its junior teams, often with mixed results. The intense pressure of performing alongside a multiple world champion like Max Verstappen can be a make-or-break situation for a young talent. Hadjar’s impressive turnaround this season has clearly put him in contention, but the mental fortitude required for such a high-stakes role is immense. Lawson’s advice underscores the importance of mental resilience and focusing on one's own performance rather than external narratives.

What's next:

Should Hadjar indeed secure the Red Bull seat for 2026, his integration and initial performance will be under intense scrutiny. The ability to quickly adapt, handle pressure, and contribute to the team’s success will be paramount. Resolving any lingering reliability or consistency issues would also be crucial for a successful transition to a championship-contending team.