Hadjar acknowledges that he is 'not prepared' for a seat at Red Bull.

      Isack Hadjar openly agrees with those who believe he is not yet prepared to be Max Verstappen’s teammate. After parting ways with Liam Lawson following just two races this season, Red Bull Racing is still working to bring Yuki Tsunoda up to pace. Technical director Pierre Wache acknowledges that the ongoing disparity between Verstappen and Tsunoda is "not ideal" for a leading Formula 1 team. Team advisor Dr. Helmut Marko concurs, stating, "He’s already performing well in the race, but he faces challenges during qualifying. He has particular difficulties when there are any changes," the Austrian told Kleine Zeitung. "Every session is new ground for him." When asked about his expectations for Tsunoda, Marko is straightforward: "Points! Ideally, as many as possible." Such comments have intensified speculation that Red Bull will consider the next driver on the list to pair with Verstappen in 2026, which is clearly Isack Hadjar. "He’s exceptional," Marko remarked. "He performs well on all tracks, whether he knows them or not. His Formula 1 debut has surpassed our expectations thus far. He certainly has a bright future ahead." Nevertheless, Racing Bulls CEO Peter Bayer humorously mentioned this week that he needs a pair of "handcuffs" to keep the 20-year-old French-Algerian with the junior team for the time being. A reporter even suggested to Hadjar before the Canadian GP that being promoted to Red Bull Racing too soon might be detrimental to his career. "That’s a perfectly valid point," RMC quoted him as saying. "Liam and Yuki are skilled drivers, so it's normal to think that. I'm curious, and that's all I can say - I'm curious to see what it's like alongside Max." However, Hadjar also acknowledges that the idea is currently "frightening." "I don’t feel ready yet. That’s a reality," he stated. "I believe it’s beneficial to gain experience and remain where I am for now. I enjoy every weekend and learn a lot each time. I feel comfortable in this car, though I haven’t faced a challenging car yet. We’ll see what the future holds. As a Red Bull junior, it’s natural to follow that path and aspire to reach there one day." Former Racing Bulls boss Franz Tost always emphasized that rookie drivers need three years at the Faenza-based team before they are ready for promotion. "That’s a reasonable statement, in my opinion," Hadjar commented. "You can excel at a top team even earlier, but what he says does make sense."