Jacques Villeneuve has seen enough rising stars – and enough false dawns – to know when a young driver fits an F1 team’s DNA.
As Red Bull prepares to usher Isack Hadjar into one of the sport’s most demanding seats for 2026, the 1997 world champion believes the 21-year-old Frenchman has exactly the mindset the Milton Keynes outfit thrives on.
Red Bull confirmed its future plans earlier this month, naming Hadjar as Max Verstappen’s new team-mate while reshuffling its junior programme across the grid. It is a bold call, given the revolving door beside Verstappen in recent seasons – but Villeneuve is convinced the choice makes sense.
Reflecting on Hadjar’s rookie campaign, Villeneuve offered a characteristically blunt assessment that doubled as praise.
“Hadjar was hit and miss," Villeneuve said when reflecting on the rookie driver's performance in 2025 on the High Performance Podcast.
"He had some crazy crazy… It's a very Red Bull way now. Very aggressive. Some crazy races. I mean some races were 'Wow, where did that come from?'"
The inconsistency did not go unnoticed — but neither did the flashes of brilliance.
"Then some other races where he was behind Lawson. So if he can keep that special momentum going, and it was only his first season. So if he keeps that momentum going, he's in the perfect team. Red Bull, with his attitude, it works well."
A Rookie Unfazed by the Spotlight
If the weight of expectation that comes with partnering Verstappen has rattled others, Hadjar has shown no sign of it. Speaking in Abu Dhabi following the announcement, the Frenchman framed the promotion not as a burden, but as a reward – and a beginning.
"It's a very good moment in my career, that's for sure," Hadjar told reporters in Abu Dhabi.
"For all the hard work through the years being rewarded now, obviously it's just the beginning of a new journey. But I'm very excited and stepping into a new era of Formula 1 as well. I think it's very good timing."
©RedBull
Timing may indeed be on his side. The 2026 season will usher in a sweeping new set of technical regulations, flattening the competitive landscape and giving rookies a rare opportunity to grow alongside the sport’s reset – something Hadjar views as an advantage rather than a risk.
"I have no expectations at all, because starting from scratch - everyone. The work is going to be done," he added.
"I'm just really looking forward to January, February, working with the team, getting to know the people. It's going to be crucial to try and be ahead a bit."
For Villeneuve, that grounded outlook only strengthens the case. Raw speed, aggression, and the willingness to live on the edge have long defined Red Bull’s approach to talent – and Hadjar, in his eyes, fits the mould.
The challenge now is sustaining the highs while smoothing out the lows. If Hadjar can do that, Red Bull may have found not only a worthy team-mate for Verstappen – but its next long-term contender.
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