Isack Hadjar Joins Red Bull for the Ultimate Test

 

The F1® season may have concluded, but the tectonic plates are already shifting for 2026.

After F1® testing this week at the Yas Marina Circuit, we got our first glimpse of Hadjar wearing his newly donned Red Bull F1® team wear. Watching him with the team and driving around the track, it felt like a privilege to see a homegrown Red Bull driver from the young driver program jump into his new F1® Car for the first time.

The biggest news to emerge from the Abu Dhabi post-season testing is the confirmation that Isack Hadjar is officially promoted to Red Bull Racing to partner Max Verstappen!

A massive congratulations to Isack Hadjar from everyone here at Senate Grand Prix!

The young Isack Hadjar's promotion had been spoken about up and down the grid, and we had discussed it at Seante Grand Prix. Several times.

He has certainly had an outstanding rookie season with the Racing Bulls in 2025. He was quickly heralded as the Rookie of the Year, demonstrating the raw speed and mental fortitude required to thrive under Red Bull's intense spotlight.

In a midfield car, Hadjar scored an awe-inspiring 51 points across 24 races. Crucially, he delivered a maiden F1 podium finish at the chaotic Dutch Grand Prix, showcasing the precise racecraft and composure that Red Bull prizes above all else.

Hadjar's move to the senior team is the ultimate validation of years of hard work, but it comes with immense pressure. The second Red Bull seat is often called the "poisoned chalice," with Verstappen's dominance setting an almost impossible benchmark.

Formula One is a tricky business where only results and performance matter, as we saw with Liam Lawson at the beginning of the 2025 season. 

So it won't be easy for the young driver, and Hadjar's reported €6.6 million 2026 salary is a huge raise. Still, his contract is apparently loaded with performance clauses and a "1+1 year structure," meaning he must perform immediately to meet the expectation of partnering a four-time World Champion.

We look forward to seeing the "raw speed" of the French-Algerian driver unleash itself on the 2026 grid.

And as always, when the lights go out and the drama unfolds, here at Senate Grand Prix, there is only one winner, and that's you, the race fans!