Isack Hadjar just took a giant leap toward securing a Red Bull drive alongside Max Verstappen for 2026 at the Dutch Grand Prix.
He took advantage of Lando Norris’ surprise retirement and drove a superb race to secure third place for Racing Bulls, marking their first rostrum in four years.
While many are hesitant for Hadjar to accept a promotion heading into the 2026 F1 regulations, a new car should be a fresh start for everyone.
At the Dutch Grand Prix, he just proved that he has the racecraft to pair with his raw one-lap speed. The only question that remains is whether moving to Red Bull would arrive too soon.
Helmut Marko was impressed by Hadjar and how he handles his setbacks in Zandvoort, after a difficult Friday saw him affected by some car issues.
Just a few months on, Hadjar’s pre-season prediction has aged brilliantly after stating that he would reach the podium this year. His superb driving has made it a reality.
READ MORE: How Yuki Tsunoda reacted to Red Bull seat rival Isack Hadjar bagging Dutch Grand Prix podium

How Arvid Lindblad reacted to Isack Hadjar’s Racing Bulls podium at the Dutch Grand Prix
There’s a chance that Red Bull may ignore Hadjar’s wishes, as he would like to remain at his current team into next year to continue his development.
But the senior team’s needs come first, and they’re in desperate need of a talented second driver to back up Verstappen. Patience is not the name of the game.
Verstappen reacted to Hadjar’s podium by telling the 20-year-old that he should be proud of his efforts around the Zandvoort circuit. It’s a tricky place to have to go for the first time.
Now his potential replacement for 2026 has weighed in, commenting underneath an Instagram post of Hadjar’s.
Arvid Lindblad, who is currently impressive in Formula 2, said, “Congrats bro,” and was spotted in team celebrations after the race.
How every F1 driver reacted to Isack Hadjar’s podium at the Dutch Grand Prix
Hadjar’s teammates haven’t been the only ones reacting to his success either. Lewis Hamilton and Sergio Perez shared their thoughts, too.
Hamilton used one word to describe Hadjar and said, “Legend,” said Hamilton, while Perez replied, “Bravo.” Surprisingly, not too many rivals offered responses to his success on social media.
As a result, the Frenchman has now snuck into the top 10 of the drivers’ standings, and is level on points with Nico Hulkenberg for ninth.
It’s the second time a midfield team has secured a podium on merit this year, and it shows just how close the field spread is nowadays.
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