Sky F1 pundits warn Hadjar: Avoid move to Red Bull!

Rising star Isack Hadjar has been issued a stark warning by Sky Sports F1 pundits, who believe a promotion to Red Bull Racing could derail his Formula 1 career before it truly begins.

As Red Bull continues to search for a long-term partner for Max Verstappen, speculation has turned to Hadjar – the highly rated Racing Bulls driver – as a potential candidate. But the Sky panel urged extreme caution.

The comments came during The F1 Show, where Simon Lazenby, Karun Chandhok, and David Croft debated Red Bull’s driver dilemma following a turbulent start to their 2025 season.

After parting ways with Sergio Perez at the end of 2024, the team briefly promoted Liam Lawson, only to replace him after two rounds with Yuki Tsunoda, who has also struggled in the RB21.

Red Bull’s driver churn and the extreme demands of matching Verstappen's performance have left many questioning whether Hadjar should consider the leap at all.

“Why Would You Potentially Destroy Your Career?”

David Croft opened the discussion by highlighting Hadjar’s stylistic similarity to Verstappen – a rare trait among Red Bull’s driver pool.

"There is one driver who Racing Bulls think has a very similar style to Max Verstappen," Croft explained. "I don't think he's ready yet, and as I say, Yuki Tsunoda is going nowhere this season, but is Isack Hadjar the answer to their problems?"

But Simon Lazenby immediately poured cold water on the idea, warning that stepping into Verstappen’s shadow has proven a career killer for many.

"If I was Isack Hadjar I would be saying, 'no, no, no.' I would be running a mile from that at the moment," Lazenby said.

"Why would you potentially destroy your career, because it's destroyed everybody else's career up to this point.

“I mean, some have bounced back, and I'm thinking Alex Albon, I'm thinking Pierre Gasly to some extent, but all the others..."

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Karun Chandhok echoed the sentiment, pointing to alternatives that might offer Hadjar a more stable path forward.

"If I was Isack Hadjar," Chandhok added, "I'd be trying to hang on to the Racing Bulls seat and then try and get myself a deal at Ferrari or Aston or anywhere but Red Bull."

A Risk Worth Taking?

Despite the warnings, Croft did suggest that Hadjar’s potential alignment with Verstappen’s driving style might give him an edge if Red Bull does make the call.

"But if Isack Hadjar is the closest thing to Max Verstappen then he has the easier task of adapting to that car which has been designed and developed more to Max's liking," he noted.

The Red Bull seat may be the most coveted on the grid in terms of prestige and performance, but it's also arguably the most unforgiving.

For Hadjar, the allure of a promotion comes with the knowledge that few have succeeded alongside Verstappen, and several have faltered.

With Verstappen’s own future uncertain – as the Dutchman hovers just one penalty point away from a race ban – Red Bull’s next driver decision may carry even more weight than usual.

For Hadjar, it could mean the opportunity of a lifetime – or a step too soon that alters his career trajectory forever.

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