Hadjar draws praise from Marko: ‘He’s the surprise of the season’

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In a 2025 Formula 1 season brimming with high-profile moves and intense scrutiny, Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar has emerged as a quiet revelation, earning high praise from Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko.

The 20-year-old French-Algerian driver, who stepped up from Formula 2, has defied expectations with a string of composed performances, prompting Marko to label him the standout “surprise of the yseason.”

Despite a shaky start in Melbourne — where he crashed on the formation lap — Hadjar’s rapid adaptation to the pinnacle of motorsport has turned heads in the paddock, positioning him as a potential future star.

Hadjar is currently the second-highest scorer among the four Red Bull-affiliated drivers this season, sitting behind only Max Verstappen.

Both Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson have yet to finish in the points, making Hadjar’s ascent all the more impressive — especially given his limited experience in Formula 1 machinery.

“Hadjar is the surprise of the season,” Marko told Sky Germany. “He’s the one with the fewest test kilometres in Formula 1 cars, yet he’s still racing with [Andrea Kimi] Antonelli.

“He’s calm and always there. He had a four-tenth lead over Lawson in the practice session. He’s a really big guy coming up for the future.”

Eyes on the Bigger Prize

Hadjar’s strong form has raised questions over his long-term potential within the Red Bull system — particularly with ongoing uncertainty around who will eventually partner Verstappen in the main team in 2026.

Although Tsunoda has been confirmed to see out the 2025 season at Red Bull, the longer-term picture remains open, and Hadjar is clearly on Marko’s radar.

For his part, Hadjar remains laser-focused on performance — and admitted that Red Bull’s notorious second seat intrigues him even more now that he’s closer to the picture.

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“Honestly, now that it seems like it's really hard to be next to Max, it makes me want to go even more, to find out why, what's going on. That's still the main target,” Hadjar said ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix.

“It's not like I don't need to work anymore. Still, I always put the pressure on me to keep delivering. So now the expectations from people are maybe a bit higher, but I keep doing what I do.

“Like I said before the season, if the car can finish in P9 or P8, I want to be there, maximise it, not being outside the top 10. If the car deserves the top 10, then I need to be on it.”

Read also: Hadjar ‘in the mix’ for spot in Q3 in Bahrain qualifying

While Verstappen continues to lead Red Bull and Tsunoda fights to solidify his place, the rookie’s calm competence has given Racing Bulls a new dimension.

Marko’s unequivocal praise suggests Hadjar could be more than a fleeting surprise, potentially reshaping Red Bull’s plans in the years ahead.

For now, the young driver remains focused on seizing every opportunity, proving that his early success is no fluke.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.