Davide Valsecchi says ‘special’ Isack Hadjar has already proven him completely ‘wrong’ for one reason this season

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At this stage of the Formula 1 season, it’s starting to become clear which drivers are punching above their weight and which drivers need to find an extra gear.

Although McLaren went into the season as the favourites for the constructors’ championship, not many people would have predicted Oscar Piastri to have won three more Grand Prix than Lando Norris this year.

There have also been two driver changes this season, with Franco Colapinto replacing Jack Doohan and a driver swap taking place at Red Bull and Racing Bulls.

Liam Lawson was demoted after two races but his replacement Yuki Tsunoda hasn’t performed much better.

Lawson is under pressure at Racing Bulls, and at the senior Red Bull team, Tsunoda’s future appears to be far from certain.

Among all of this uncertainty, Isack Hadjar has emerged as one of the stars of the season.

Formula 1 pundit and former driver Davide Valsecchi has admitted that the young Frenchman has taken him completely by surprise.

After studying him closely during his junior career, he never expected Hadjar to hit the ground running in the way that he has this season.

READ MORE: Who is Racing Bulls 2025 F1 driver Isack Hadjar? Everything you need to know

Davide Valsecchi admits he was wrong about ‘special’ Isack Hadjar this season

Valsecchi was talking about the 20-year-old’s first 10 race weekends and said: “Shout out to Hadjar, I don’t know how it’s possible!

“So I saw him racing every single race in the lower category, in the last two years. I said, he’s fast. Doesn’t look special.

“Sure, be quiet, Valsecchi, you’re wrong! Hadjar is surprisingly good.

“And already this year, when he did the first two races with Tsunoda, he was immediately the same.

“He was immediately equal, if not better. It was unlucky, the first one in Australia, do you remember?

“Immediately crashing on the formation lap, he’s the best driver out of your [Red Bull’s] group apart from [Max] Verstappen.

“I think he’s surprisingly good, and already with Tsunoda was equally, if not better. Now, with Lawson, there’s no comparison.

“And then he’s almost every time in Q3, and believe me, being good in qualifying is the most difficult quality that you need to have, and probably is the better way to have success in Formula 1 at the moment.”

READ MORE: All to know about Racing Bulls from team principal to Red Bull affiliation

Isack Hadjar’s future remains uncertain despite stunning start to Racing Bulls F1 career

Hadjar is one of a handful of drivers who have yet to sign a contract for the 2026 Formula 1 season.

Red Bull are notorious for offering their drivers short, rolling contracts to keep them on their toes, especially with a constant supply of young talent pushing pressure on the incumbents.

Verstappen is the exception to that rule, considering he’s won four consecutive championships, but a contract extension for Hadjar shouldn’t be far away.

The uncertainty for the 20-year-old is to do with which team he’ll be racing for next season.

Hadjar is the favoured candidate to replace Tsunoda at Red Bull next year based on his recent form.

Red Bull have held informal chats with George Russell, with his Mercedes contract coming to an end.

However, the 27-year-old feels more like a Verstappen replacement than his teammate, and with Arvid Lindblad being lined up for a Formula 1 debut, Hadjar being promoted would open up that seat for the British teenager.