Why Steiner was blown away by one F1 rookie’s season

Guenther Steiner doesn’t hand out praise lightly. When the former Haas boss labels someone “rookie of the year”, it usually comes with scars, setbacks and a serious test of character.

In Isack Hadjar’s case, Steiner saw all three – and then some – during a debut Formula 1 season that began in embarrassment and ended in admiration.

Hadjar finished 12th in the 2025 drivers’ standings with 51 points, comfortably ahead of Racing Bulls team-mate Liam Lawson. But the numbers only tell part of the story.

What impressed Steiner most was not just where Hadjar finished, but how he got there.

From Melbourne Misery to Mental Reset

Hadjar’s F1 career began with a nightmare: a crash on the formation lap of the Australian Grand Prix that meant he didn’t even make the start. For many rookies, that kind of public stumble can linger. Steiner argues that Hadjar made sure it didn’t.

"Isack Hadjar. Because over the season, he was the guy who was... I mean, they all did well, but Kimi [Antonelli] struggled a few times badly, Isack just struggled in Australia," Steiner explained on The Red Flags Podcast when asked who his rookie of the year was.

"He didn't make it to the start, but recovered, and for me the most impressive thing from him was that he recovered from that one and was back with his head on his shoulders the next race in China."

That reset set the tone. Hadjar quietly built momentum, learned fast and ultimately delivered one of the standout moments of the season with a surprise third-place finish at the Dutch Grand Prix — his first podium at the top level.

Thriving Without a Safety Net

Hadjar’s rookie campaign was complicated further by upheaval inside Racing Bulls. He began the season alongside Yuki Tsunoda, only for the team dynamic to shift after two races when Tsunoda moved to Red Bull and Lawson arrived from the senior team.

For Steiner, that situation may have made Hadjar’s performance even more impressive.

"If Hadjar had had an experienced team-mate, you learn quicker. He had to do it all himself," he said.

"I think that's what makes him even more outstanding because if you've got a reference in a team-mate you can look at the data of that guy and learn from it.

"So it's like he was on his own. When he had an issue or when he couldn't find a set-up, he had nobody to look at, or if he couldn't find a line on the race track or a braking point, or just getting better. He was on his own. I give him a lot of respect for that one as well."

In a paddock obsessed with data and comparisons, Hadjar was effectively flying solo – learning the car, the tyres and the pressure cooker of F1 without a proven benchmark across the garage.

Red Bull, Verstappen – And a Rare Opportunity

That resilience has earned Hadjar a daunting but coveted promotion: a seat alongside four-time world champion Max Verstappen at Red Bull in 2026.

It’s a role that has undone several drivers before him, but Steiner believes the timing could play in Hadjar’s favour.

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"He has got that chance which should be an advantage that he doesn't come in with a car which Max knows in and out and he doesn't," Steiner explained of Hadjar's upcoming move, which coincides with sweeping new regulations.

"They both know nothing about the car. So that is to his advantage. I mean to challenge Max, you need to be very good, but at least I think he can keep the pressure on Max. That is what I expect from him because he's doing well."

Pressure, expectation and Verstappen himself now await. But if Hadjar’s rookie season proved anything, it’s that setbacks don’t shake him – and doing it the hard way might just be his strength.

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