The pressure to find a reliable teammate for Max Verstappen has been a defining challenge for Red Bull Racing, but team principal Laurent Mekies believes they’ve found their answer in Isack Hadjar. Ahead of the Formula 1 season, Hadjar is slated to partner the four-time World Champion, replacing Yuki Tsunoda, who moves into a reserve driver role.
Mekies, speaking at the Autosport Business Exchange, emphasized Hadjar’s “mega” potential and praised the young driver’s “maximum intensity” approach to preparation. This commitment, Mekies suggested, is a key factor in Red Bull’s confidence that Hadjar can succeed where others – Sergio Perez, Alex Albon, and Pierre Gasly among them – have fallen short of matching Verstappen’s performance.
The second seat alongside Verstappen has proven notoriously difficult to fill. Throughout the past several seasons, drivers have struggled to consistently challenge the dominant Dutchman. The team acknowledges the need to improve its support for the second driver, recognizing that simply finding a fast driver isn’t enough. “We are not hiding behind the fact that we need to do a better job with that second car, and that includes the second part of last year,” Mekies stated. “Yes, we made some progress with Yuki, but not at the level that we felt we should have reached, so we are aware that we need to do a better job there.”
Hadjar’s progression during his rookie season with Racing Bulls – formerly AlphaTauri – was instrumental in securing his promotion. Despite a challenging start to his F1 career, including a crash on the formation lap at the Australian Grand Prix, he quickly demonstrated impressive speed and consistency. He secured a podium finish at Zandvoort and regularly qualified for Q3, showcasing a raw pace that caught the attention of the Red Bull hierarchy.
Mekies highlighted Hadjar’s ability to not only perform at a high level initially but also to continue improving, a trait he believes is crucial for success alongside Verstappen. “It’s not only progressing with maturity or with your dialogues with the engineers, they actually go faster,” Mekies explained. “We have seen that with Isack last year at Racing Bulls, so we are convinced that the potential is mega.”
The season also brings significant regulatory changes to Formula 1, with a complete overhaul of power units and aerodynamics. This reset, Mekies believes, provides an opportunity for Hadjar to adapt quickly and compete effectively. “I guess in some respects, the fact that everything’s changed in 2026, he’s also been given a reset about how you go about extracting as much as you can from the car,” he said.
Hadjar’s dedication to preparation is evident in his off-season routine. He has relocated to London and is spending considerable time in the simulator, fully immersing himself in the challenge ahead. “He has been taking it from day one with maximum intensity,” Mekies confirmed. “He has moved to London. He’s on the sim as we speak and is there quite a few days each week.”
Red Bull is acutely aware of the scrutiny Hadjar will face as Verstappen’s teammate. The team is committed to providing him with the support he needs to thrive, recognizing that a successful partnership is vital for their championship aspirations. Mekies described Hadjar as “humble” and “fully aware of the challenge,” emphasizing that the team will provide “360 [degrees]” of support to help him express his talent.
The arrival of Arvid Lindblad at Racing Bulls, partnering Liam Lawson, completes Red Bull’s driver lineup for . While Lawson and Tsunoda both showed promise alongside Verstappen in , they ultimately couldn’t consistently match his pace. Red Bull is hoping Hadjar’s combination of raw speed, adaptability, and unwavering dedication will finally provide Verstappen with a teammate capable of challenging for victories and contributing to the team’s overall success.
The team’s announcement regarding their driver lineup is scheduled for Tuesday, further solidifying their plans for the upcoming season and signaling a new chapter in Red Bull Racing’s pursuit of Formula 1 dominance.
