The news was in the air, awaiting confirmation: Isack Hadjar, 2024 Formula 2 runner-up, will enter Formula 1 with Racing Bulls.
Following the announcement of Liam Lawson’s promotion to Red Bull, Racing Bulls left the door open for a new driver to step in. Filling the spot vacated by the New Zealander will be Isack Hadjar, a rising star of Formula 2, who finished second in the drivers’ championship this year, behind only Gabriel Bortoleto.
Statements of the key figures
Isack Hadjar said: “I’m very excited to step into my new role at VCARB, this is a huge milestone for myself, my family, and all the people who have believed in me from the beginning. The journey from karting, through the ranks of single-seaters, to now reaching Formula 1 is the moment I’ve worked for my entire life—it’s the dream.
I feel like I’m stepping into a whole new universe, driving a much faster car and competing against the best drivers in the world. It will be a steep learning curve, but I’m ready to work hard and give my best for the team. I look forward to working with Yuki and learning from him. I’ve always looked up to him. He also came through the Red Bull Junior Program, just like me, and we’ve shared a similar path to F1. He has a lot of experience, and it will be invaluable to learn from him.”
Laurent Mekies, Team Principal of Visa Cash App Racing Bulls, said: “We’re thrilled to have Isack with us next year, bringing a fresh and dynamic energy to the team alongside Yuki in 2025. His journey to Formula 1 has been outstanding; he has demonstrated remarkable growth, with a string of impressive results in the junior single-seater categories. He has the talent and determination needed to compete at the highest level, and we are fully confident that he will adapt quickly and make a significant impact.
I believe Isack and Yuki will form a great team. Yuki brings invaluable experience to the squad; he has shown incredible resilience and maturity, which will be crucial as we strive to achieve all our goals in 2025.”
Peter Bayer, CEO of Visa Cash App Racing Bulls, added: “First of all, we must congratulate Liam on his promotion to Oracle Red Bull Racing. As a sister team and talent incubator for Formula 1, our strategic objective is to develop and prepare our drivers for this next step.
With this move and by bringing Isack into VCARB, we reaffirm our longstanding commitment to nurturing the best young talent in motorsport and the success of the Red Bull Junior Program. Having a young driver aligns with our mission to engage with a younger audience, and we’re excited to bring both new and existing fans along with us on this journey.”
Photo: Formula 2, Trident Team
