Jacques Villeneuve explains why Isack Hadjar is better suited to racing for Red Bull instead of Ferrari

Follow us on Google Discover

Isack Hadjar capped off one of his best weekends in Formula 1 by earning his first podium at the Dutch Grand Prix.

The Racing Bulls driver had qualified in fourth place after a stunning lap that put him just three tenths off Max Verstappen in the Red Bull, then in the race he managed to shadow the Dutchman throughout the 72 laps.

Hadjar then received some good fortune when Lando Norris suffered a shock retirement from the race, with the McLaren driver encountering a power unit-related issue on his car.

At 20 years old, he broke the record for the youngest podium-sitter from France, beating Pierre Gasly’s record set at the 2019 Brazilian Grand Prix.

Hadjar received widespread praise after the race, with speculation over whether he would be considered to be Verstappen’s teammate for 2026. Jacques Villeneuve has explained why Hadjar would struggle to replicate his current form at any other team on the Sky Sports F1 Show podcast.

Jacques Villeneuve explains why Isack Hadjar is the ‘perfect’ Red Bull driver

Hadjar has been part of the Red Bull stable since 2021, with the team supporting him through F1 feeder series Formula 3 and Formula 2.

He was expected to impress this season after being runner-up in F2 last year to Gabriel Bortoleto. Villeneuve believes Hadjar would struggle to achieve the same results if he was at another team on the F1 grid.

“He’s perfect at Red Bull. Now, put a driver like him in a Sauber or a Haas and it just wouldn’t work, or in a team where you need to be more clean cut, let’s say, than Red Bull,” said Villeneuve.

“Because Red Bull like the extravagant drivers, the extravagant attitudes, and it works out. So he’s in the perfect team to progress. It is perfect for him. Imagine him in a situation like Ferrari. I’m not sure that would suit him.”

Jacques Villeneuve has ‘no doubt’ Isack Hadjar will join Red Bull

It’s clear that Hadjar is one of the favourites to partner Verstappen in 2026, given he is currently 10th in the Drivers’ Championship and has been closer to the Dutchman than Yuki Tsunoda or Liam Lawson.

Lawson’s struggles at Red Bull, coupled with Tsunoda’s lack of form, would suggest that the second seat is harder to perform in than the sister team.

Even though it could end up being a step down for Hadjar, Villeneuve thinks Red Bull has already made up their mind for 2026.

“He is heading to Red Bull. There’s no doubt there. There’s no other way to spin it. He is being prepped for Red Bull. He was put there by Helmut Marko to see how he would cope and he’s been coping better than any other junior Red Bull or even other than Max, any other Red Bull driver,” said Villeneuve.

“Anyway, he doesn’t decide when he goes up. He’s a Red Bull driver. They decide where he drives. The only one who actually cannot be demoted is Max”

Hadjar has also said he is ready to make the step up, although whether he will be able to fight for wins depends on Red Bull’s form at the start of the new regulation cycle in 2026.