Hadjar on Red Bull and the daunting second seat

(opens in a new tab)Sign InSubscribeF1ScheduleChevron DropdownPrevious 2026 SeasonDriver Standings Team StandingsArchive 1950-2025F1 AwardsNewsChevron DropdownWhat is F1? What is F1 TV?F1 GlossaryGet involved2026 RegulationsNewsVideosExclusiveHadjar on Red Bull and the daunting second seatThe state of play at McLarenAlonso reflects on F1 future beyond 2026What time is the 2026 Miami GP and how can I watch it?Play11:32Isack Hadjar talks with Lawrence Barretto on his rise through the Red Bull ranks 21:56F1 drivers play the Generation Game Alexander AlbonFernando AlonsoKimi AntonelliOliver BearmanGabriel BortoletoValtteri BottasFranco ColapintoPierre GaslyIsack HadjarLewis HamiltonNico HulkenbergLiam LawsonCharles LeclercArvid LindbladLando NorrisEsteban OconSergio PerezOscar PiastriGeorge RussellCarlos SainzLance StrollMax VerstappenAll Drivers Hall of FameTeamsChevron DropdownAlpineAston MartinAudiCadillacFerrariHaas F1 TeamMcLarenMercedesRacing BullsRed Bull RacingWilliamsAll TeamsFantasy & GamingChevron DropdownF1 Sim RacingFantasyF1 25F1 Manager 24F1 PredictF1 ClashF1 Members' AreaMenuFIA if(window.f1MobileDetection.iOSSafari) { var meta = document.createElement("meta"); meta.name = "apple-itunes-app"; meta.content = "app-id=835022598, app-argument=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/exclusive-hadjar-on-red-bull-the-daunting-second-seat-next-to-verstappen-and-faith-in-his-ability.2OUbk6wDXQOYZNW8vHbqah.2OUbk6wDXQOYZNW8vHbqah"; document.head.appendChild(meta); } {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/exclusive-hadjar-on-red-bull-the-daunting-second-seat-next-to-verstappen-and-faith-in-his-ability.2OUbk6wDXQOYZNW8vHbqah","url":"https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/exclusive-hadjar-on-red-bull-the-daunting-second-seat-next-to-verstappen-and-faith-in-his-ability.2OUbk6wDXQOYZNW8vHbqah","mainEntityOfPage":"https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/exclusive-hadjar-on-red-bull-the-daunting-second-seat-next-to-verstappen-and-faith-in-his-ability.2OUbk6wDXQOYZNW8vHbqah","datePublished":"2026-04-27T14:39:05.797Z","dateModified":"2026-04-27T14:39:05.797Z","headline":"EXCLUSIVE: Isack Hadjar on Red Bull, the daunting second seat next to Max Verstappen and faith in his ability","author":"F1","description":"Lawrence Barretto sits down with Isack Hadjar to chat about life at Red Bull, faith in his racing ability and a passion for astronomy.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://media.formula1.com/image/upload/f_auto/q_auto/v1777299310/fom-website/2026/Red%20Bull/EXCLUSIVEINTERVIEW%20FEATURE%20V5%20DISPLAY%20-%20single%20arty%20image%20(FOCUS%20IN%20THE%20MIDDLE)%20(3).png"},"isAccessibleForFree":"false","publisher":{"@type":"SportsOrganization","@id":"https://www.formula1.com#organization","name":"Formula 1","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://www.formula1.com/etc/designs/fom-website/social/f1-default-share.jpg","width":"480","height":"120"}}}Isack HadjarRed Bull RacingF1 UnlockedShow more tagsEXCLUSIVE: Hadjar on Red Bull, the daunting second seat next to Verstappen and faith in his abilityLawrence Barretto sits down with Isack Hadjar to chat about life at Red Bull, faith in his racing ability and a passion for astronomy. "If I believe I'm good, I'm good. And that's the end of the story." Isack Hadjar has made quite the impression since making his debut in Formula 1 last year. He's confident, wears his heart on his sleeve – and looks like he's living his best life doing the job he has always dreamed of doing. The Frenchman's F1 career got off to an inauspicious start when he crashed out on the formation lap in Australia in 2025. He cut a despondent figure when I spoke to him in the TV pen, the 21-year-old saying he felt "terrible". He felt he let Racing Bulls down – but he also felt he let himself and his family down as he fell below his own high standards. But rather than letting that painful weekend get in his head and start spiraling, as has happened to some of his former Red Bull junior colleagues, Hadjar was able to compartmentalise it and move on straight away. Unlock exclusive F1 content and more with F1 Unlocked. Totally free. Membership gets you closer with: Live like an F1 insider with exclusive access and VIP experiences Member benefits, rewards and offers F1FacebookXInstagramYouTube© 2003-2026 Formula One World Championship Limited