Hajar's Bold Leap: Why Red Bull's Next Line of Speed Excites a French Rookie

Joining a World Champion Team

French driver Isaac Hajar is eager about his new role with Red Bull, saying racing alongside four-time world champion Max Verstappen is one of his strongest motivations for 2026.

Hajar was promoted from Racing Bulls to Red Bull for the 2026 season after leaving a strong impression in his first year with the team.

Red Bull, based in Milton Keynes, has a storied trophy cabinet, including Vettel's four straight titles from 2010-2013 and Verstappen's four straight championships up to 2025, halted by McLaren's Lando Norris.

This historic legacy is part of what attracts Hajar to the step, as he becomes the latest driver to test himself against Verstappen within the same squad.

When asked what excites him most about this phase, the 21-year-old said, in quotes reported by Formula 1: 'Two things. First, joining a world champion team. When I was a kid watching F1, I’d see Vettel win so many races with Red Bull.'

'And the second thing is to be teammates with Max, to see what it is like, and what the competition looks like at the world-class level. It's really exciting.'

Hajar also spoke about what he admires in Verstappen's character, noting that after four world titles, he remains hungry for victory and reacts strongly when things don’t go his way, always pushing for the win.

'I don’t think all champions can do that. After reaching a certain level, some ease off a bit, but he seems to reset and push again, which is truly impressive.'

Despite his great enthusiasm, Hajar emphasized that he carries no fixed expectations for his second season in F1, especially with a major wave of new technical regulations coming into effect.

'I don’t have any expectations at all, because everyone starts from zero. Work will make the difference. I’m very excited for January and February to work with the team and meet everyone. It will be critical to move forward,' he said.

Preparations for the season begin with a pre-season test in Barcelona-Catalunya from January 26-30, followed by two more three-day sessions, in Bahrain from February 11-13 and February 18-20, ahead of the 2026 season.

Two light, one-liners to end on a lighter note: 1) If speed were a weapon, Verstappen would need a license to kill... the lap times. 2) Hajar might find that the quickest way to learn is to keep his head down and push the pedal, but his jokes should probably stay in the pit lane for safety.