Isack Hadjar pinpoints where he must improve before he can ‘think about’ landing Red Bull 2026 F1 seat

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Isack Hadjar is in the running for a seat at Red Bull for the 2026 Formula 1 season after having an impressive start to his rookie campaign.

Since his heartbreaking crash on the formation lap at the season opener in Melbourne, the Frenchman has produced standout performances in 2025 with Racing Bulls. Regularly making Q3 appearances, he has outperformed Liam Lawson since his demotion from Red Bull two races into the season.

Hadjar sits 13th in the standings with 22 points, making him the second-highest-placed rookie behind Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli. His performances are catching the attention of key figures at Red Bull, who could plot a move for next year.

Helmut Marko is pushing Red Bull to sign Hadjar for 2026, with the Austrian chief advisor being a keen admirer of the Frenchman. It is widely expected that Yuki Tsunoda will be dropped at the end of the season, with him currently enduring the worst season from a Red Bull driver.

Isack Hadjar knows he must avoid mistakes in Q3 before he can ‘think about’ joining Red Bull in 2026

It is believed that Lawson’s chance at Red Bull has come and gone, having failed to score points or reach Q2 in the opening two races of 2025. With a straight promotion to the main team looking unlikely for Arvid Lindblad, Hadjar is the prime candidate to replace Tsunoda.

The 20-year-old has stated that he would be up for the challenge to partner with Max Verstappen, who has committed to Red Bull for 2026 amid reports linking him to Mercedes. However, Hadjar is not thinking about a promotion just yet.

Speaking via the Dutch edition of Motorsport.com, the Racing Bulls driver remains focused on his 2025 efforts. He knows that he needs to minimise mistakes in Q3 before he can start to look ahead to 2026.

“I have to make sure I don’t make any mistakes in Q3.” he said. “Once I’ve got everything in order and I’m not making any more mistakes, I can think about it.”

Asked if he dreams of the Red Bull seat, he simply replied: “I dream of scoring points.”

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

Would a promotion to Red Bull in 2026 be too soon for Isack Hadjar?

Given his current form, Hadjar would be an ideal candidate to drive for Red Bull next season. However, the Milton Keynes outfit run a huge risk of damaging another talent’s career in the second seat.

Since Daniel Ricciardo’s exit in 2018, no driver has come close to Verstappen in the second Red Bull, resulting in their dismissal. This issue has been heightened in 2025 with Tsunoda; the team would be last in the constructors’ championship without Verstappen’s points.

Red Bull have a major problem with the second seat that desperately needs addressing for 2026. If their issues cannot be resolved, Hadjar could be the next driver to fall victim to the car’s woes.

Furthermore, Lawson may now be establishing an advantage over Hadjar at Racing Bulls with his recent form. The New Zealander has scored 16 points in his last five races, while his teammate has failed to register any points in that time.

Red Bull will work on the second car for 2026, which should bring it closer to Verstappen. But the team will want to see an upturn in results from Hadjar amid a recent slump.