Team boss Laurent Mekies, in office since mid-July, already raved to Zandvoort as “sensational” from Hadjar’s first year: “If you see your natural speed, how quickly he has settled in with the engineers, the entire team, the entire Formula 1 environment-and all the pressure that goes with it-then it is simply something of us.”
Red Bull Motor Sports Advisor Helmut Marko also seems to be impressed by Hadjar-but lasted recently: “With this decision we take our time,” said the Austrian recently about “OE24”. And further: “We look at the next races in peace, then we make a decision.”
Is Hadjar the right teammate for Verstappen after many failed experiments? “If he had to get into the same car as Tsunoda today, Red Bull would have destroyed him too,” Ralf Schumacher continued in an interview with T-Online.
“But: Next year everything will be put to zero” – the comprehensive changes to the rules in 2026 would benefit him. “That means: Max starts at zero, his new teammate begins at zero, everyone can get involved and get the set-up he needs,” continued Schumacher. “In addition: Hadjar has the speed it takes. If he then also suits the new concept, he is certainly the simplest, the most obvious solution as a teammate from Max Verstappen.”
And Hadjar himself? He only spoke about the speculation at the last race weekend in Monza: “At the beginning of the year I was asked if I was ready to jump into the Red Bull cockpit.” His answer was then: “No. Because it just doesn’t make sense now.” Then he added: “But in 2026 it is another question because it is a complete restart for the team. It is about developing the car in the right direction. And I find that exciting.”
On the edge of the Grand Prix of Azerbaijan, he was now commenting again. When asked that several media already reported to Red Bull as decided, Hadjar replied: “I don’t care. I really don’t care. I had five days freely at home and had other things to do on Instagram,” said the courted. But also indicated: he had “an idea” how it continues for him in 2026. Not just he.