Isack Hadjar revealed that his arrival in F1 was planned from the start to aim for a quick promotion to Red Bull. The Frenchman admits to having built his rookie season with the main team as the ultimate goal.
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Isack Hadjar acknowledged that his arrival in Formula 1 was not just a simple learning phase, but was from the outset part of a very specific ambition: to convince Red Bull to promote him quickly to the main team alongside Max Verstappen, a goal assumed from the first months.
The French driver explains that he knew perfectly well that Racing Bulls was only a step, and that the real evaluation would be based on his ability to perform immediately in an ultra-competitive environment. A pressure he says he has turned into a driving force rather than a brake.
An adaptation faster than expected
Hadjar’s career start, however, began badly, marked by his crash during the formation lap of the Australian Grand Prix last year. Despite this significant incident, he was able to bounce back quickly and above all impose a solid pace from the following races, without a prolonged adaptation period.
He highlights being surprised by his own ability to adapt so quickly to the intensity of F1, where every tenth counts and where gaps can quickly condemn a season. This consistency allowed him to stay in the internal discussion at Red Bull.
The French driver now admits without hesitation that his initial goal was well defined: to quickly join the Red Bull team. He insists that this idea was not built over the course of results, but was present from his entry into the premier discipline of motorsport.
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He specifies in particular: “I was immediately in the rhythm and I really enjoyed it. I knew that if I did the work naturally, I would get the promotion. Honestly, that was my goal from the start of the season.”
Progress validated by results
Over the races, Isack Hadjar delivered solid performances, limiting mistakes and showing a rare consistency for a rookie. This ability to remain competitive, even under pressure, strengthened his credibility in the Red Bull hierarchy, often very demanding with its young drivers.
He concludes by recalling that his approach was never based on excessive caution, but on a clear desire to perform immediately.
“I wanted to have a big rookie season and then aim for Red Bull, that was the plan” he confides, illustrating a trajectory planned from the start to reach the top.
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