Hadjar moves closer to securing a seat at Red Bull as Marko praises the 'little Prost.'

      "Currently, he is achieving results."

      All indicators suggest that Isack Hadjar is set to join Max Verstappen at Red Bull in 2026. The new team principal, Laurent Mekies, disclosed at Zandvoort that Verstappen immediately quashed any speculation regarding his future during their initial meeting as driver and manager. "Max and I never discussed his future," he told Bild. "It wasn't necessary. He approached me on my first day and stated, 'Forget everything you've read. I will remain with Red Bull, and I'm excited about our time ahead together.'"

      The real curiosity lies with Verstappen's future teammate. Sergio Perez is long gone, and both Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson have faced difficulties in 2025; however, the 20-year-old Hadjar has emerged as a standout talent in the Red Bull program. The Frenchman made headlines with a podium finish at Zandvoort in his Racing Bulls, becoming the youngest French driver to reach an F1 podium. "Alain Prost just sent me a message saying it’s incredible to break such records," Hadjar beamed.

      Dr. Helmut Marko, Red Bull's motorsport director, cannot hide his enthusiasm. "We picked Hadjar because we recognized he had something exceptional. I refer to him as little Prost, the new Prost," he stated. "People laughed when I made that comparison, but now he is delivering results. He only needs three laps to acclimatize to a new track. He remains unfazed by anything."

      Hadjar, for his part, is thankful to the person who signed him at the junior level. "It was Helmut who provided me this opportunity," he remarked. "He charted a path for me, and I’m following it quite well right now." Mekies, who managed Hadjar at Racing Bulls earlier this season, also agrees that the young driver is worthy of a senior position. "He is making continuous progress, and the trend is definitely positive," he told Sky Italia. When asked if Hadjar deserves a top seat, he replied simply: "Yes."

      Even Verstappen is participating in the rumors. When questioned about their potential collaboration, the Dutchman humorously responded: "Terrible." Hadjar, sharing a laugh, added: "I don’t want to be alongside Max. I don’t like him. That’s all."

      However, while Marko smiled throughout his interviews at the Dutch GP, he insists that no final decision has been reached. "We will decide later," he said. "His development is impressive, but it's all contingent on performance." A decision is anticipated "around" the Mexican GP, with Arvid Lindblad considered a potential replacement for Racing Bulls if Hadjar ascends. "We're addressing that as well," said the 82-year-old Marko.

      Regarding Tsunoda, his chances appear slim. "He needs to get closer to Max and consistently maintain that performance level," Marko told ORF. "That's why we've postponed the decision-making timeline. We are currently focusing on the upcoming races."

      Yet Hadjar claims he is prepared now. "I can handle anything except a MotoGP bike," he joked to Sky Italia. "I’m ready for whatever comes next."