Isack Hadjar: The Rising Star Who Mirrors Max Verstappen’s Incredible Speed!
In the high-octane world of Formula 1, few names spark as much intrigue as Isack Hadjar. The young Frenchman, who races for the Racing Bulls team, is turning heads with his astonishing ability to adapt to new tracks at lightning speed—an attribute that has drawn comparisons to none other than Max Verstappen!
Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s revered motorsport advisor, has been vocal about his admiration for Hadjar’s rapid acclimatization, especially during the recent Singapore Grand Prix. On a thrilling opening day, Hadjar blazed through the practice sessions, not just holding his own, but finishing with the second-fastest time on Friday—a mere 0.132 seconds off the pace of Oscar Piastri and just ahead of Verstappen.
But let’s take a moment to appreciate the sheer audacity of Hadjar’s performance. This 21-year-old rookie managed to clock his impressive time in the final moments of FP2 when the track conditions were at their peak—an indication of his undeniable talent. Marko couldn’t hide his enthusiasm, stating, “Isack was very impressive. He took P1 after just two laps. He was already with the fastest cars, and he did a very good lap in FP2 as well. So, he’s progressing and he’s doing what we are expecting from him.”
This is no small feat! Hadjar has displayed a remarkable knack for speed, echoing Verstappen’s own penchant for immediately finding pace, even on unfamiliar circuits. Marko emphasized this aspect of Hadjar’s skill set, noting how crucial it is for a driver to hit the ground running. “He doesn’t need any warm-up or knowledge and so on. So, it’s similar to Max,” he said, recognizing a unique quality in Hadjar that could propel him into the upper echelons of F1 stardom.
While comparisons to a four-time world champion might seem premature, they certainly highlight Hadjar’s potential. The young driver has already shown he can transition seamlessly from Formula 2 to Formula 1, further solidifying his status as one to watch. Marko sees Hadjar on a trajectory for the Red Bull Racing team by 2026, but he reassures fans that there’s no rush—though the upcoming Mexican Grand Prix at the end of October could serve as a significant benchmark.
However, not every Racing Bulls driver had a stellar day in Singapore. Liam Lawson, Hadjar’s teammate, suffered a setback, crashing early in FP2 and triggering a red flag. Yet, in a show of support, Marko tempered his criticism: “He had a crash, but that can happen here. From his speed, he was also competitive.”
As the adrenaline-fueled weekend unfolds, Marko maintains an optimistic outlook for Racing Bulls, even as he candidly states, “They are not in the mix for the win! But I think they could be quite high up.”
With Hadjar’s undeniable talent and the backing of a motorsport giant like Red Bull, the future looks incredibly bright for this young prodigy. Will he rise to the occasion and etch his name in the annals of F1 history? Only time will tell, but the signs are pointing to a thrilling journey ahead!
