Isack Hadjar on Red Bull, the daunting second seat next to Max Verstappen and faith in his ability

“If I believe I’m good, I’m good. And that’s the end of the story.”

Isack Hadjar has made quite the impression since making his debut in Formula 1 last year. He’s confident, wears his heart on his sleeve – and looks like he’s living his best life doing the job he has always dreamed of doing.

The Frenchman’s F1 career got off to an inauspicious start when he crashed out on the formation lap in Australia in 2025. He cut a despondent figure when I spoke to him in the TV pen, the 21-year-old saying he felt “terrible”. He felt he let Racing Bulls down – but he also felt he let himself and his family down as he fell below his own high standards.

But rather than letting that painful weekend get in his head and start spiraling, as has happened to some of his former Red Bull junior colleagues, Hadjar was able to compartmentalise it and move on straight away.