The final vacant seat on the Formula 1 grid for 2025 has gone the way of 20-year-old French -Algerian Isack Hadjar, who will replace take the seat vacated by Liam Lawson at Racing Bulls following the Kiwi’s promotion to Oracle Red Bull Racing.
Hadjar was the runner-up in the 2024 Formula 2 Championship, finishing on the podium eight times, four of which were wins.
He is the 18th driver to rise to Formula 1 from the Red Bull Junior Driver programme, a pathway following by the likes of four-time World Champion Max Verstappen, Sebastian Vettel, Daniel Ricciardo, and Lawson.
With Lawson receiving the call-up to replace Perez at Red Bull Racing earlier this week, the door was opened for Hadjar to get his Formula 1 call-up, where he will partner Yuki Tsunoda at Racing Bulls.
“I’m very excited to step into my new role at VCARB, this is huge for myself, my family and all the people who have believed in me from the beginning,” he said. “The journey from karting through the ranks in single-seaters, to now being in Formula One is the moment I’ve been working towards my whole life, it is the dream.
“I feel like I’m stepping into a whole new universe, driving a much faster car and racing with the best drivers in the world. It’ll be a huge learning curve, but I’m ready to work hard and do the best I can for the team.
“I look forward to working with and learning from Yuki, I’ve always looked up to him, he went through the Red Bull Junior Programme, like myself, and we’ve shared a similar path to F1. He’s very experienced and will be good to learn from.”
The 20-year-old began his jorney in karting, before impressing in French Formula 4. He finished fourth overall in his rookie Formula 3 season, before moving to Formula 2.
After an encouraging first season in that, he switched to the prestigious Campos Racing team, where he swiftly established himself as one of the most promising prospects with four race wins and eight podiums this season banking him second overall.
Hadjar’s rapid upward trajectory has included big wins at classic venues such as Imola, Spa-Francorchamps and Silverstone, with his test driver and reserve driver stints for Oracle Red Bull Racing and Visa Cash App Racing Bulls now converted to an actual race seat alongside Japanese driver Tsunoda, who will be suiting up for his fifth season with the team.
“We’re excited to have Isack with us next year, bringing a new and fresh dynamic to the team alongside Yuki in 2025,” said Team Principal Laurent Mekies. ” As a product of the Red Bull Junior Program, his journey to Formula One has been nothing short of outstanding.
“He has shown remarkable growth, with a series of impressive results in the junior single-seater ranks. He has the talent and drive necessary to compete at the highest level, and we have every confidence that he will adapt quickly and make a significant impact.
“I believe Isack and Yuki will make a great partnership. Yuki brings invaluable experience to the team, he’s shown incredible resilience and maturity, which will be crucial for the team as we strive to hit all our aims and objectives in 2025.”
Header Image: Dutch Photo Agency/ Red Bull Content Pool
