The 20-year-old French talent has delivered a flawless qualifying record so far, never dropped in Q1 across 15 races, and earned a stunning maiden podium with third place at Zandvoort.
That standout result has intensified the race for the second seat at Red Bull Racing alongside Max Verstappen in 2026. Yuki Tsunoda’s difficulties this season have only fueled speculation that Hadjar, and perhaps Liam Lawson, are being considered as alternatives.
However, Hadjar is in no rush to make that jump mid-season. He has said, “At the start of the year, … the answer is still ‘no’, because I don’t see the point of doing that right now.”
Instead, he argues that 2026 presents a far better opportunity. With brand-new chassis and engines due under the regulation overhaul, he believes stepping up then would be “way easier”.
As he put it: “There won’t be this talk of the second-car thing … you will be in a phase where you need to direct the car in the right direction.”
He’s also said he hasn’t yet held talks with Red Bull’s leadership, Helmut Marko or team boss Laurent Mekies, about a 2026 seat, though he anticipates those conversations may begin soon.
For now, he’s focused on closing out the season strongly. “There’s nine races left to prove I can keep doing a very good job,” he confirmed.
Renowned voices in motorsport are backing the narrative, too. Jacques Villeneuve suggested on Sky Sports that Hadjar is “perfect at Red Bull” and that he may not thrive in more conservative team environments.
Meanwhile, Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane described Hadjar’s podium as “comfortable,” underlining his composure under race pressure.
In short, Racing Bulls have a rising star on their hands. Hadjar has already reached double figures in points in his rookie campaign, and with 37 points, competing for ninth in the drivers’ standings, he’s drawing serious attention.
