What Helmut Marko is now saying behind the scenes about Isack Hadjar as 2026 Red Bull decision looms

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This time last year, Racing Bulls driver Isack Hadjar didn’t know if he would even be a Formula 1 driver in 2025.

Isack Hadjar was in the midst of a Formula 2 title battle with Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto and Alpine reserve driver Paul Aron 12 months ago, but now he could be about to take the biggest step in his racing career.

Hadjar’s maiden Formula 1 season has been extremely impressive, and he’s already secured his first podium at the Dutch Grand Prix.

Considering that Red Bull had reservations about promoting Hadjar ahead of the start of the campaign, the progress he’s made has been amazing.

Hadjar is the second-highest scoring Red Bull-backed driver in the championship, with Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson trailing behind him.

This has led to speculation that Hadjar is the frontrunner to be Max Verstappen’s teammate next season, with Tsunoda, Lawson and Arvid Lindblad battling it out for the two Racing Bulls seats.

One of the most important people that Hadjar has to impress to make that step up is Helmut Marko.

Journalist Matt Majendie has now shared what the veteran Red Bull advisor has been saying behind the scenes about the young Frenchman.

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

Helmut Marko privately praising Isack Hadjar ahead of Red Bull promotion decision

Majendie was asked on The Inside Track Podcast when Red Bull plan to decide their driver line-ups for 2026, and he said: “Yeah, so very much it’s after Mexico.

“So they have said that we’re not making any decision until after Mexico. And that’s the official line from Helmut Marko.

“He said that to me, and Mekies was saying that this weekend that it’s Mexico, and then we choose.

“Now, that’s counter to a lot of reports saying the Hadjar deal is already done. So you would think Mexico is a final audition for both Tsunoda and Hadjar to find out who gets that seat.

“If Tsunoda has another weekend like that, then suddenly, the scales kind of head back in his direction.

“Marko, who’s got quite a sway in this decision, is a big Hadjar fan, and he doesn’t just talk about Hadjar the driver. He talks about the personality, this sense of humour, this strong character, he likes all that stuff that he sees are still important, that the mental strength he’s got, stuff like that.

“So I don’t know. I’d be interested to see how quickly they’re going to sit down and have a post-Mexico chat, and how quickly they make that decision remains to be seen.”

READ MORE: Who is Red Bull motorsport adviser Helmut Marko? Everything to know

Isack Hadjar’s extremely high standards will either make or break his Red Bull career

There is a small chance that Tsunoda does enough at the Mexico City Grand Prix to convince Marko and team principal Laurent Mekies he deserves to start next season alongside Verstappen.

Mekies is desperate for Tsunoda to improve, although he’s yet to record a top-five finish since replacing Lawson earlier in the season.

Hadjar is a perfectionist, and while he’s done a good job calming down in the car compared to some of his radio outbursts last season, that trait hasn’t completely disappeared.

After crashing during qualifying for the United States Grand Prix, Hadjar was seen bashing his steering wheel, knowing he had just made a mistake that would ruin his weekend.

This level of passion is only going to drive Hadjar to improve, but it’s important he doesn’t get too frustrated when he’s inevitably slower than Verstappen next season.

How he responds to being a number two driver next year will determine whether or not he’s got what it takes to be Verstappen’s long-term teammate at Red Bull.