The Formula 1 grid for 2025 is officially set with Isack Hadjar to VCARB. It’s time to welcome a new face to the grid. The French driver, fresh off an impressive campaign as the 2024 Formula 2 runner-up, is the newest addition to the Visa Cash App Red Bull F1 Team. Hadjar will step up to replace Liam Lawson, recently promoted to the main Red Bull Racing team. He will partner Yuki Tsunoda for the upcoming season.
At just 20 years old, Hadjar’s promotion to Formula 1 marks a major milestone in the career of one of Red Bull’s most promising young talents.
Completing the 2025 Grid
Hadjar’s move to VCARB finalizes the driver line-up for the 2025 Formula 1 season. The announcement follows Red Bull Racing’s confirmation of Lawson as Sergio Pérez’s replacement. This also signals VCARB’s commitment to fostering fresh talent within its ranks.
Laurent Mekies, VCARB’s Team Principal, expressed the team’s excitement about the arrival of Hadjar, saying:
“We’re excited to have Isack with us next year, bringing a new and fresh dynamic to the team alongside Yuki in 2025. His journey to Formula 1 has been nothing short of outstanding. He has shown remarkable growth, with a series of impressive results in the junior single-seater ranks. He has the talent and drive necessary to compete at the highest level, and we have every confidence that he will adapt quickly and make a significant impact.”
Hadjar’s Journey
Hadjar’s career has been a steady climb to the top. The Frenchman first gained attention in karting before making his single-seater debut in Formula 4. His success continued in Formula Regional and Formula 3, where he claimed multiple wins and podiums. This earned him a reputation as one of the most exciting young prospects in motorsport.
In 2024, Hadjar’s performance in Formula 2 was nothing short of stellar. Finishing as the runner-up, he showcased incredible consistency across the season, regularly battling at the sharp end of the grid. His efforts earned him a promotion to Formula 1, fulfilling a lifelong dream.
Reflecting on the announcement, Hadjar said:
“I’m very excited to step into my new role at VCARB, this is huge for myself, my family and all the people who have believed in me from the beginning. The journey from karting through the ranks in single-seaters, to now being in Formula 1 is the moment I’ve been working towards my whole life, it is the dream.
“I feel like I’m stepping into a whole new universe, driving a much faster car and racing with the best drivers in the world. It’ll be a huge learning curve, but I’m ready to work hard and do the best I can for the team. I look forward to working with and learning from Yuki, I’ve always looked up to him. He went through the Red Bull Junior Program, like myself, and we’ve shared a similar path to F1. He’s very experienced and will be good to learn from.”
A New Dynamic with Yuki Tsunoda
Hadjar’s partnership with Yuki Tsunoda offers an exciting prospect for VCARB in 2025. Tsunoda, now entering his fifth season in Formula 1, brings a wealth of experience to the table. Known for his raw speed and candid personality, Tsunoda will serve as both a teammate and a mentor for Hadjar as the rookie navigates his debut season.
The duo represents a blend of youth and experience that VCARB hopes will propel them up the Constructors’ standings. With Hadjar’s fresh perspective and Tsunoda’s maturity, the team is poised to tackle the challenges of the 2025 season head-on.
The Challenges Ahead
While Hadjar’s talent is undeniable, stepping into Formula 1 is no small feat. He will face a steep learning curve. He will have to adapt to the speed, complexity, and pressure of racing in motorsport’s top tier. The VCARB car, while improved, is unlikely to match the performance of the frontrunners. Hadjar’s focus will likely be on maximizing opportunities in the midfield.
However, with the guidance of Mekies, the support of Tsunoda, and the resources of the Red Bull program, Hadjar is well-positioned to make an impact.
Looking Ahead to 2025
The 2025 season will undoubtedly be a defining year for both Isack Hadjar and VCARB. For Hadjar, it’s an opportunity to prove himself on the biggest stage in motorsport and show he is a rising talent in Formula 1. For VCARB, his addition signals a renewed commitment to developing young talent and building a team for the future.
