Isack Hadjar open to early Red Bull running ahead of F1 2026

Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar has suggested it would be a “good idea” for him to test the Red Bull Formula 1 car early ahead of an expected promotion for the 2026 season.

The 21-year-old has exceeded expectations in the 2025 campaign, as Hadjar is ninth in the championship with a podium at the Dutch Grand Prix being a standout moment.

He has often beaten team-mate Liam Lawson, but also the struggling Red Bull driver Yuki Tsunoda who is 17th in the standings and fighting for his F1 future across the final six rounds of 2025.

Regardless of how Tsunoda fares though, Hadjar is still expected to partner Max Verstappen at Racing Bulls’ sister squad Red Bull in 2026 when F1 introduces its revamped technical regulations.

Hadjar has long wanted the Red Bull drive, but earlier this year he said he ‘doesn’t feel ready’ to make the jump in 2025. Ahead of this weekend’s United States Grand Prix, however, he appeared to have changed his mind.

When asked in Austin if he would be open to contesting the “last three races this year” for Red Bull, Hadjar said: “Yeah, definitely. I think that would be… I don’t know, but if I’m 100% sure and I get the opportunity to take some advance, then yes. But at the same time, it’s a completely new car next year, so it’s also pointless in a way.”

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team

Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

It was then mentioned to Hadjar that it would be an opportunity to learn his new engineers, to which the Frenchman replied: “It definitely helps. Yeah, I didn’t think about this, to be honest. That’s interesting. It’s a good idea.”

Red Bull has previously stated that it intends to announce its 2026 line-ups across both teams by the Mexico Grand Prix, which immediately follows Austin on 24-26 October.

But Hadjar claimed he “didn’t know” that was the case but that “it doesn’t change my approach at all”.

“I’ve been saying it a million times. Maybe a lot of talking, but when you’re strapped in the car, and I drive, I really don’t think about something else than just doing the best I can do. That’s it,” Hadjar said.

Lawson also insisted the team hasn’t given him a timeline yet, though the 23-year-old is in a similar boat to Tsunoda in that he is simply fighting for his future in the championship.

That is because F2’s Arvid Lindblad is expected to be promoted into Racing Bulls next year, leaving the seat next to the 18-year-old Red Bull junior as the one left to be filled.

But Lawson is not letting any of it get to him, claiming this has been the theme of his career since he made his debut as a Daniel Ricciardo substitute at the 2023 Dutch GP.

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team

Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / LAT Images via Getty Images

“It’s my entire career in Formula 1 so far, not that it’s been very long but that’s how it’s been,” said Lawson, who is contesting his first full season in the championship and started the year at Red Bull, but was demoted for Tsunoda after two point-less rounds. 

“It’s how I came into the sport last year, it’s how things have always been and it’s something that we’re exposed to from a young age in the junior programme.

“We’re put under this pressure, we’re always on a performance-based programme and it’s designed to put us under pressure so it’s nothing new honestly.”

Photos from United States GP – Thursday

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