The 2025 Formula 1 season will now see another rookie join the grid with Isack Hadjar joining the Visa Cash App Racing Bulls team. The twenty-year-old French Algerian graduates from Red Bull Junior Team to partner Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda next year.

Filling The Seat

After New Zealand driver Liam Lawson moved up to join Max Verstappen at Oracle Red Bull Racing for next season following Checo’s Departure, there was a gap to fill at Visa Cash App Racing Bulls and they moved quickly.

Hadjar will follow in the footsteps of Verstappen, Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo as he becomes the 18th driver to rise to Formula One from the Red Bull Junior Programme, which started in 2006.

Driving His Way To F1

The 20-year-old, who has French and Algerian dual nationality, started out in karting and impressed in French F4 competition before finishing fourth overall in the 2022 FIA Formula 3 Championship.

After an encouraging first FIA Formula 2 Championship season, 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.

Next Chapter In His Journey

In a statement to the media Hadjar admitted to being very excited at the prospect of stepping into his new role at VCARB. “This is huge for myself, my family and all the people who have believed in me from the beginning,” he added.

“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.”

Hadjar did admit that it will be a huge learning curve for him, but he is 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.”

Message From The Boss

Team Principal Laurent Mekies is excited to welcome Isack Hadjar to the team. “Isack will be bringing a new and fresh dynamic to the team alongside Yuki in 2025. As a product of the Red Bull Junior Program, his journey to Formula One has been nothing short of outstanding.”

According to Mekies, the driver 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.”

(Images: Red Bull Content Pool)