Marko: Hadjar is capable of competing with Verstappen on equal terms.

      A final decision is still weeks away.

      Isack Hadjar's journey towards partnering with Max Verstappen at Red Bull in 2026 seems to be becoming more certain following recent comments from both Helmut Marko and the French rookie at Monza. The 20-year-old impressed with a debut podium for Racing Bulls at Zandvoort, and Red Bull’s senior advisor is not hiding his aspirations. "He definitely possesses the mental strength to compete with Verstappen," Marko told Kleine Zeitung. He also mentioned that Hadjar demonstrates "excellent emotional control in challenging situations," a trait he feels is "mostly absent in Formula 1 today."

      Although a final decision is still some weeks off, it appears that Yuki Tsunoda's position may be in jeopardy. "Yeah, that’s what I’m trying to do every race," Tsunoda acknowledged when asked if he's now focused on impressing his superiors. "You always need to deliver results as consistently as possible. I aim to exceed expectations and continue doing what I’m doing. Since Laurent joined, my results have been fairly solid. Whether that's sufficient or not is beyond my control. But I just keep pushing forward."

      Hadjar, for his part, is already expressing his views on the timing of his promotion to the top tier. "I don’t see the point in being there now," he stated at Monza. "However, next year will be different. It’s a new beginning for the team, and there will be no more discussions about the second car or the second driver. Everyone will have a new car, which also facilitates the transition from one racing team to another significantly. I’m certainly considering driving for Red Bull Racing next year, but there are still nine races to go, and I want to show that I deserve my place with the Racing Bulls first."

      In response to inquiries about discussions with Marko or Laurent Mekies, he said: "Not personally yet. But to be truthful, I’m not in a rush."

      The current plan suggests that Hadjar will ascend from Racing Bulls, with young prospect Arvid Lindblad expected to take his place while Liam Lawson appears secure for 2026. "Essentially, we want to maintain our driver lineup for the cockpits in 2026," Marko explained. "If a super talent comes along, we won’t ignore it, of course, but that’s not the situation at present."