Renewed for a second season of F1 at Red Bull alongside quadruple world champion Max Verstappen, Isack Hadjar now wants to “beat all” his competitors with the objective of winning the second world title for a French driver after Alain Prost in the 1980s-1990s.
In an interview with AFP after his third place at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Saturday and before the Bahrain Grand Prix relocated this weekend to Malaysia, the Parisian, just 22 years old, who missed three races due to a broken wrist, judged that Red Bull was “at the same level” as Ferrari and McLaren and that the team would continue to accelerate in 2027.
How is your wrist and are you dreading the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia on a very technical circuit, on which you have never driven, and in difficult atmospheric conditions?
I can’t wait to ride, to discover the track. I have known it (from television, video games, simulators) since I was very young, but I have never practiced it in reality.
It’s going to be super hard on the tires, we know that Sunday it’s not going to be (limited) to a pit stop. The weekend will also be tough physically, with the heat.
For wrist pain, this is no longer relevant. In Baku there were a lot of questions to ask, but I managed to do it and I have no doubts about this weekend.
In Baku, you said it was your first “merit” podium. Do you feel like you made a psychological leap before Malaysia?
I’ve been chasing this podium for a while, I wanted to get it on merit and it feels good. Does this give me more confidence? I don’t know, because the hardest part is always fighting back. It’s cool to be sixth, but it’s not what I want.
You have been reappointed to Red Bull for next year. How do you manage the relationship with Max Verstappen when you have the possibility, when the car allows it, to go after him in qualifying and in the race?
It happened naturally for me, even for the team, we didn’t ask any questions. It’s going so well, the integration is good and I’m in the rhythm. We work well with Max. It is obviously symbolic to have had the double podium (Verstappen 2nd and Hadjar 3rd in Baku).
You said at the start of the year +I’m here to be world champion and not just once, otherwise I’ll go home+. Can 2027 or 2028 crown the first French F1 world champion since Alain Prost?
Next year, we won’t have a car that will dominate the championship. But we want the car that will fight for a title. The Mercedes will add another layer this weekend and will still be the benchmark to beat next year. We are at the same level as the big customers McLaren and Ferrari. But we have to keep pushing. The goal is 2027, accelerating. The objective is 2027 at 100%.
What would satisfy you for 2026?
This year, we are not playing a title, we are not playing anything. I want to end the season by telling myself that in 2027, we’re going to smash them all! And 2028 will be even better. I just want to fight for victories, to put myself out there with the guys, the big guys. I’m optimistic, I can’t wait.
