Hadjar reveals Red Bull promotion was always his rookie season target

Red Bull's new signing Isack Hadjar has revealed that his primary goal for his debut F1 season was always to earn a promotion to the senior team alongside Max Verstappen. The Frenchman delivered on that ambitious target with a standout rookie year, capped by a maiden podium, and has already shown promising pace against his champion teammate in the early stages of the 2025 season.

Why it matters:

A driver openly targeting a seat at the top team from a sister squad in their first year is a rare and confident admission. It highlights the intense pressure and high expectations within the Red Bull driver program. Hadjar's successful achievement of this goal, followed by his competitive start against Verstappen, signals a potential shift in the team's dynamic and could mark the arrival of a genuine long-term contender for the championship-leading outfit.

The details:

• In an interview, Hadjar admitted that while publicly stating he would take things "step by step," his private target was always a mid-season promotion to Red Bull Racing.
• He described wanting a "big, big rookie season" to force that move, a goal he ultimately achieved.
• His debut season was impressive for its consistency; he didn't suffer a Q1 elimination until the 16th round of the championship in Monza.
• The season was punctuated by a maiden podium finish at the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort.
• His start to his F1 career was inauspicious, crashing out on the formation lap at the 2024 Australian Grand Prix. However, he emphasized his ability to immediately bounce back from that setback and find his rhythm.
• Three rounds into the 2025 season with Red Bull, he has proven to be a closer match to Verstappen than his predecessors, despite the team's struggles with the RB22 car.

What's next:

Hadjar has successfully navigated the first major hurdle by securing the coveted Red Bull seat. The focus now shifts entirely to his performance against the benchmark of the field, Max Verstappen.

• The true test will be maintaining this early competitiveness over a full season and under increasing pressure.
• If he can consistently challenge within the team, he will solidify his status as a top-tier driver and potentially alter the long-term driver landscape at the reigning constructors' champions.