Hadjar Addresses Red Bull Speculation, States He Doesn't Feel Ready for Early Promotion

Racing Bulls driver Isack Hadjar has emerged as a significant talking point in the Formula 1 driver market, particularly concerning potential future opportunities within the Red Bull Racing hierarchy. The young Frenchman, currently competing in the Formula 2 championship and also holding a reserve driver role with Racing Bulls, has delivered a series of impressive performances this season, accumulating 21 points for the team and sitting ninth in the highly competitive F2 standings. His strong form has naturally led to speculation linking him with a potential graduation to the senior Red Bull team. This discussion has gained further traction due to the current situation surrounding Red Bull's lead driver, Max Verstappen, who is reportedly nearing a race ban due to accumulating penalty points. This scenario has prompted consideration of who might step into Verstappen's seat should the need arise, with Red Bull's pool of junior and reserve drivers coming under scrutiny. Despite the growing whispers about an early Red Bull opportunity, Hadjar himself has offered a candid assessment of his current readiness. Speaking ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix weekend, he stated unequivocally that he does not feel prepared for a move to the main Red Bull squad at this juncture. He emphasized the value of continuing his current trajectory and gaining further experience within the Racing Bulls environment, highlighting that he is enjoying his time there and learning significantly every weekend. Hadjar acknowledged that pursuing premature promotion, particularly given the historical challenges faced by drivers transitioning from the junior team to the demanding second seat at Red Bull, might not be the optimal step for his career development. He referenced the experiences of current and former Racing Bulls drivers who have made the step up, suggesting that the difficulties encountered by talented individuals like Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda underscore the challenge of immediately performing at the required level alongside a driver of Verstappen's calibre. Expanding on what he feels he still needs to develop, the 22-year-old pointed to a lack of experience in handling particularly challenging or 'tricky' cars. He noted that the cars he has driven so far have been relatively consistent and not overly difficult to extract performance from. Hadjar believes he needs more experience in situations where the car is not immediately competitive and requires significant technical input and adaptation over a single weekend to bring it up to speed. He also indicated that further progress on the technical aspects of understanding what an F1 car needs to go faster is still required. While confident in his inherent raw speed, Hadjar stressed that readiness for F1, especially at the top level, extends beyond pure pace. His current focus remains on continuing his development path with Racing Bulls, building experience, and ensuring he is fully equipped when the time for a potential Red Bull opportunity eventually arrives.