Yuki Tsunoda continues to struggle for result since being promoted to the top Red Bull team while F1 rookie Isack Hadjar has turned heads with his impressive results
Racing Bulls chief executive Peter Bayer has predicted Isack Hadjar will achieve « great things » in Formula 1. But the Austrian team boss insists Red Bull will not rush to promote the Frenchman into their top team having decided to « keep it calm » – for now.
Hadjar came into the season as possibly the least celebrated of the several rookies on the grid. He was beaten to the Formula 2 title by Gabriel Bortoleto while much of the pre-season hype was reserve for Kimi Antonelli, who filled the shoes of Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, and British starlet Oliver Bearman who had joined Haas.
But he has made an impressive case to be regarded as the best performer of them all so far in 2025 with a series of strong results for Racing Bulls. His most eye-catching feat yet came at Zandvoort on Saturday when he qualified fourth for the Dutch Grand Prix.
Even before that, he was being touted as the next team-mate to Max Verstappen at the main Red Bull team. « Definitely Isack Hadjar, for me, is the most impressive rookie, » said Helmut Marko in July, the veteran adviser having a key say in the team’s driver decisions.
And that could be key given Red Bull have a pressing problem on their hands. Having dropped Liam Lawson just two rounds into the season, his replacement Yuki Tsunoda has failed to make the desired impact so far and, ahead of Sunday’s Dutch Grand Prix, had scored just seven points.
The Japanese is the latest in a lengthening line of drivers to wilt as team-mate to Verstappen. And he will need to find form quickly if he is to extend his career with Red Bull Racing beyond the current season.
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Hadjar will certainly be a candidate if they do decide to make another change, though Bayer has ruled out the prospect of such a switch happening before the end of the year. « I’m sure that, post-summer break, discussions will start about 2026 but, honestly, I dare to say that in ’25 we all want to keep it calm and, talking about Isack, give him the chance to grow, to learn, » he told PlanetF1.
He is particularly impressed with the maturity shown on track by the 20-year-old so far this year. Bayer added: « For me, it’s as simple as that – his capacity of driving. Honestly, I think we will see great things from him.
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« His mind is just working, asking, growing. Isack is a great kid. He is great, but he needs this year with us, and everybody agrees that is what we should do. »
Bayer, Marko and new Red Bull Racing team principal Laurent Mekies have decisions to make with only Verstappen contract to 2026 of their four current drivers across their current teams. Teenager Arvid Lindblad is also pushing for promotion to F1 and is highly rated by decision-makers, especially Marko.
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