Written by Lizzie Kennedy, Edited by Vyas Ponnuri
With the confirmation of Isack Hadjar claiming the final Visa Cash App RB seat for 2025, the Formula 1 grid is now complete.
The Red Bull Academy driver’s promotion follows Liam Lawson’s step-up to the senior Red Bull team, leaving Hadjar to take his place. So how did this young talent carve his path to reach Formula 1?
Hadjar began garnering attention in 2022, competing in the Formula 3 Championship with Hitech GP.
Fourth in the driver standings coupled with his summer announcement as the newest addition to the Red Bull junior team marked him as an up-and-coming talent to watch.
In 2023, Hadjar transitioned to Formula 2, completing his rookie season with a modest 14th in the standings, just trailing his teammate Jak Crawford by two points.
Recognising the need for improvement, Hadjar switched to Campos Racing for the 2024 season, a critical decision that dramatically shifted his performances in a positive direction.
In a rejuvenated Formula 2 campaign, Hadjar displayed remarkable consistency, taking four feature race victories, as he led the championship for most of 2024.
In an utterly competitive season, Hadjar emerged as one of the title contenders, alongside Hitech’s Paul Aron, and later Invicta Racing’s Gabriel Bortoleto.
Having been disqualified from the sprint at Albert Park after taking victory, the French-Algerian driver bounced back strongly, winning the following day’s feature race.
He made it back-to-back feature race wins when the Formula 2 grid embarked on their European leg in Imola, before capitalising on former teammate Crawford’s penalty to win later on in Silverstone.
Hadjar went into the summer break on a high, having won the feature race at Spa-Francorchamps, leading the standings by 36 points from Bortoleto.
Yet, a spell of four races without a point meant he ceded vital ground to Bortoleto in the standings, who took giant strides in a bid to win the world championship. Leading into the final race, Hadjar and Bortoleto separated by only half a point, the closest margin in Formula 2 history.
Despite a fifth position finish in the Sprint race while Bortoleto secured second, Hadjar remained within striking distance for the title, starting only 4.5 points off the Brazilian in his quest for the title.
The thrilling season culminated in Abu Dhabi where Hadjar started third on the grid for the Feature race, following Paul Aron’s pit lane start from the starting grid.
However, in an unlucky turn of events, Hadjar’s car stalled off the start, ending his championship dreams. Reflecting on his disappointment, Hadjar stated, “I’m not upset about losing the title, I’m upset that I didn’t get the opportunity to fight for it.”
Despite an unfortunate end to his Formula 2 career, Hadjar’s 2024 season showcased significant progress.
He also participated in two FP1 sessions with Red Bull, first at Silverstone, and finally at the Yas Marina circuit, demonstrating his readiness for Formula 1.
Hadjar’s promotion to the Visa Cash App RB team marks a pivotal moment in his career. While his track record is commendable, it lacks the Formula 1 car experience of some of the incoming rookies.
Lawson’s performance will certainly come with its expectations, slightly releasing the pressure on Hadjar, but providing him a golden opportunity to prove himself.
Red Bull’s reluctance to promote Yuki Tsunoda to the senior team has created an opening for Hadjar to establish himself as a credible driver for future promotion.
If he delivers consistent performances and matches or exceeds Tsunoda, 2025 could serve as a vital stepping stone in his Formula 1 career.
With Red Bull’s history of decision-making regarding rookies, Hadjar’s rate of improvement will be watched closely if Lawson struggles as Red Bull’s number two.
For Hadjar, the 2025 season will be an opportune moment to build momentum and stake his claim for a longer-term Formula 1 future.
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