In a thrilling twist at the Bahrain Grand Prix, Red Bull’s rising star, Isack Hadjar, has seized the spotlight, leaving seasoned drivers like Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson trailing behind. With confidence and speed, Hadjar is rapidly becoming a key player for Red Bull’s future.
During the second practice session in Bahrain, Red Bull’s teams struggled to keep up with the competition. Their fastest driver, surprisingly, wasn’t the famed Max Verstappen but the rookie sensation, Isack Hadjar. He clocked in at 1:31.238, edging out Verstappen by nearly a tenth of a second.
Meanwhile, Max Verstappen found himself battling a lack of grip, and Yuki Tsunoda described the session as ‘pretty messy’ due to miscommunication. Liam Lawson didn’t hold back either, branding his FP2 experience as an ‘absolute disaster.’ Amidst the chaos, Hadjar stood out as the only Red Bull driver unfazed by the evening’s setbacks.
Although faced with considerable challenges, Hadjar maintained his poise and performance. Reflecting on the session, Hadjar expressed satisfaction, stating, ‘FP2 was good compared to FP1. FP1 it didn’t make any sense with how hot the track was, so it was not reliable information, I would say. FP2 made much more sense, and our one-lap pace again we were quite strong.’
Displaying remarkable consistency, Hadjar continued to impress as he prepared for Saturday’s qualifying, aiming for his third Q3 appearance of the debut season. His outstanding performance so far has not gone unnoticed by Helmut Marko, a key figure in Red Bull’s driver development program.
Marko openly acknowledged Hadjar’s talent, revealing that the young driver has been a delightful surprise for the team. Despite encountering technical issues and crashes in the F2 championship that weren’t his fault, Hadjar’s speed and unwavering consistency positioned him as a top contender, potentially overshadowing his peers.
Moreover, Marko highlighted Hadjar’s remarkable ability to adapt quickly, emphasizing his lack of extensive testing with Formula 1 cars yet performing exceptionally well compared to more seasoned drivers. With a significant time advantage over Lawson during Free Practice 2, Hadjar’s potential for growth is evident.
The potential for a future Red Bull seat appears promising for Hadjar, especially considering Tsunoda’s role as a temporary solution following Lawson’s struggles in previous races. When asked about the challenge of competing against Verstappen, Hadjar showed determination, remarking, ‘Honestly, it seems like it’s really hard to be next to Max. It makes me want to go even more, to find out why, what’s going on. But that’s still the main target.’
As the season progresses, Red Bull faces critical decisions regarding its driver lineup. With neither Lawson nor Tsunoda scoring points in the second RB21 so far, the possibility of reshuffling the roster before the end of 2025 looms large. Hadjar’s impressive beginnings suggest he could be a formidable option for the team moving forward.
Isack Hadjar’s meteoric rise is sparking excitement and curiosity within the racing world. As he continues to outperform expectations, Red Bull seems poised to nurture this promising talent. With challenges ahead and seasoned competitors observing, Hadjar remains focused on proving himself and potentially reshaping the team’s future dynamics within Formula 1.
