Confident Hadjar proclaims he's in it for the long term.
Isack Hadjar expresses complete confidence in his ability to handle the intense teammate challenge posed by Max Verstappen in Formula 1. The 21-year-old French-Algerian has become one of the standout newcomers of 2026, managing to avoid the fate of many of Verstappen’s previous teammates who were quickly overwhelmed by the pressures at Red Bull Racing.
In an interview with Le Journal de Montreal, Hadjar shared that he occasionally finds it hard to grasp how rapidly his career has advanced. "There are moments when I have to pinch myself because I realize how difficult it was to reach Formula 1," he stated. "I think to myself: wow, what we’ve achieved is truly remarkable!"
Despite projecting confidence, Hadjar confessed that he frequently questions himself internally. "That might be the impression I give, but I'm constantly assessing myself," he acknowledged. "Sometimes I have doubts. I’m only human."
"I certainly maintain a poker face around others. You shouldn’t display your emotions." Several of Verstappen’s former teammates, like Pierre Gasly, Alexander Albon, and Sergio Perez, struggled significantly while racing alongside him. However, Hadjar feels that the atmosphere has changed. "Times have evolved," he noted. "The team has adopted a new philosophy."
"There are fresh faces and updated regulations. In the end, it’s working out positively." The young driver also credited the new Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies for aiding in the stabilization of his transition after stepping in for Christian Horner.
Nonetheless, Hadjar remains realistic about the challenge of competing directly with Verstappen. "I wasn't brought here by chance," he emphasized. "Having Max Verstappen as my teammate is significant. You need to stay humble. There's much to learn from him."
Yet, the Frenchman concluded with a strong message to anyone anticipating another downturn for Red Bull. "I’m in it for the long term," Hadjar affirmed. "I have no doubts about that."
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Confident Hadjar proclaims he's in it for the long term.
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