Isack Hadjar has given his first interview as a Crimson Bull System 1 driver forward of the 2026 season, when he’ll be a part of four-time champion Max Verstappen on the Milton Keynes outfit.
Throughout an look on Crimson Bull’s Speaking Bull podcast, the French-Algerian driver mentioned how he discovered he would be a part of the group and what it feels to be sat alongside Verstappen.
“I simply known as my mum,” he mentioned when requested who he instructed first when he received the decision. “She mentioned that she truly received the cellphone name earlier than I had it. She knew. As a result of she’s my supervisor and he or she is aware of greater than I do.”
Requested if it had sunk in but, he defined:Â “There are moments the place I do realise what’s occurring and I am up for the problem and generally like, ‘What the hell am I doing right here?’
“It is so distant from my go-kart days. I am like, ‘Why me? How did I get chosen?'”
Hadjar will be a part of Verstappen at Crimson Bull after a string of drivers have discovered themselves changed within the place. Liam Lawson took Sergio Perez’s place within the seat at the beginning of 2025, solely to get replaced by Yuki Tsunoda after two race weekends. Whereas there may be clearly going to be a whole lot of stress that comes with the position, Hadjar is worked up to affix the Dutchman.
“So cool,” he mentioned. “I am simply 21 years outdated. I began single-seater racing in 2019, and I get to be team-mates with one of the best driver on the grid. It is an enormous, large privilege.”
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls together with his father Yassine Hadjar
Photograph by: Erik Junius
The previous Racing Bulls driver is keen to be taught.
“It is like, why did he end so near being world champion [in 2025]Â with out one of the best automotive? There have been races the place there have been very tough circumstances and he is all the time going to be right here. Additionally, his potential to… he all the time turns up in Q3. He all the time goes and finds extra lap time.
“If there is a single alternative, if there is a situation out of 10 million, there’s just one the place he is truly going to win the race; he’ll win the race.”
Along with racing alongside one among his heroes in 2026, Hadjar had the chance to fulfill Alain Prost in Abu Dhabi final 12 months, an expertise he described as “unreal”.
“As a child, I used to be rooting for Senna and as I grew up an increasing number of I appreciated what Prost did truly. You truly take a look at his profession, he is had probably the most stunning profession by way of stats and groups he is joined. He is gained with all the good groups. He had all of the hardest team-mates. And I like his strategy; he is utilizing his head.
“And my dad, he is a physicist, and he all the time wished to fulfill Alain Prost. He was right here after I gave him my helmet. So truly one of the best second was seeing my dad, who truly watched Prost racing stay. To spend a little bit of time with him, I used to be so hyped for my dad. It was one of the best second.”
Hadjar has gained the nickname of ‘Le Petit Prost’, which he confirmed took place as a result of he has the identical behavior of biting his nails.
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