Isack Hadjar: Is the Racing Bulls driver the answer to Red Bull’s ‘horrible’ second seat next to Max Verstappen?

Yuki Tsunoda experienced a challenging Spanish Grand Prix, qualifying last and finishing 13th after being lapped by his Red Bull teammate, Max Verstappen. His recent performance has seen him fail to reach Q3 for three consecutive races and score only seven points since the third round of the season in Japan, where he replaced Liam Lawson.

Following qualifying in Spain, Tsunoda commented on a significant and sudden drop in performance compared to previous races, noting extremely low grip levels from the first practice session. He explained that despite efforts to improve the balance, no fundamental step forward was made. Tsunoda stated that while he felt confident during his Q1 lap, the required grip simply wasn`t there, making it a difficult situation.

Although Tsunoda achieved Q3 appearances earlier in the season (Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Miami), his recent form hasn`t consistently demonstrated the level needed to support Red Bull and Verstappen`s championship aspirations. Sergio Perez played a strategic role for Red Bull in 2021 and 2022, but outside of that period, no driver alongside Verstappen has managed to stay consistently close to his pace.

Motorsport analyst Karun Chandhok pointed out on *The F1 Show* that the search for a competitive second driver has been a recurring issue for Red Bull for seven years, since Daniel Ricciardo`s departure at the end of 2018. He observed that former Red Bull drivers like Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon have achieved better results in other teams, suggesting a fundamental characteristic of the Red Bull car that doesn`t suit drivers other than Max. Chandhok compared this situation to Michael Schumacher`s era at Benetton, where the car seemed uniquely tailored to him. This raises a concern for Red Bull: if Verstappen were to leave, the team might need to completely rethink its car design philosophy to accommodate other drivers.

Yuki Tsunoda’s Racing Bulls results so far (Selected Races Mentioned)

Despite Tsunoda`s struggles, Red Bull has not indicated plans for his immediate replacement. Verstappen himself defended Tsunoda, stating that the issue with the second Red Bull seat has been persistent. He cryptically suggested this might be a “sign” relating to his own level of driving, potential shortcomings of the Red Bull car for other drivers, or a combination.

Verstappen, widely regarded as a top driver, is known for his ability to handle car setups that many others find challenging. He prefers a sharp front end, which can make the rear of the car feel loose – a characteristic most drivers avoid as it limits their confidence in applying early power. This unique preference influences the car`s development.

While Tsunoda faces difficulties, Isack Hadjar has been performing impressively in his rookie Racing Bulls campaign, with strong finishes of sixth in Monaco and seventh in Spain. Hadjar tested the 2024 Red Bull car last year and reported finding it comfortable, not difficult to handle. Observers note his aggressive driving style. This leads to the question of whether the young Frenchman possesses the necessary attributes to tackle the challenging role of Verstappen`s teammate.

David Croft of Sky Sports F1 pondered if Hadjar could be the answer, suggesting his potentially similar driving style to Verstappen might make adapting to the car easier, especially given Red Bull`s acknowledgment that the car`s development leaned towards Max`s preferences due to less feedback from Sergio Perez last year.

However, Karun Chandhok cautioned that Red Bull previously made similar comments about Liam Lawson having a driving style akin to Verstappen, suggesting this doesn`t guarantee success. Chandhok advised Hadjar to prioritize securing his Racing Bulls seat and potentially aim for a future move to teams like Ferrari or Aston Martin instead of stepping into the difficult Red Bull environment. Hadjar`s stronger performance against Lawson in their qualifying sessions and race finishes this season supports his talent, but doesn`t eliminate the inherent challenge of being Verstappen`s teammate.

Former F1 world champion Nico Rosberg echoed Chandhok`s sentiment, strongly advising Hadjar to refuse any offer from Red Bull. Rosberg controversially labeled Max Verstappen a “team-mate killer,” arguing that no driver has consistently been within six tenths of his pace, a significant gap in F1 terms. He highlighted Yuki Tsunoda`s current struggles as evidence of how difficult it is to be in that position, where a capable driver feels good about his laps yet remains far from the pace. Rosberg concluded that this consistent performance gap primarily suggests Verstappen is simply performing at an extraordinary level unmatched by others.

Max Verstappen’s team-mates at Red Bull

(Note: The original table included Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson for `2025` which seems to be an error or future planning reference in the original text. Adjusted to reflect their actual race history mentioned in the context.)

Why F1 drivers might hesitate to be Verstappen`s teammate

Examining the history of the second Red Bull seat reveals a pattern. Daniel Ricciardo chose to leave voluntarily for a better offer. Subsequent experiments with promising young drivers from their own program, Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon, lasted only 12 and 26 races respectively before they were replaced. This led to signing Sergio Perez for 2021. The partnership was initially successful during Red Bull`s championship-winning years, but Perez began facing consistent problems with the car`s handling characteristics from mid-2023 onwards. Gasly and Albon have performed well since leaving Red Bull, and Perez remains a potential candidate for other teams. The recurring debate is whether the difficulty of being Verstappen`s teammate stems purely from Max`s exceptional skill or if the car is inherently designed to suit only his specific style.

“I would say Max Verstappen is a team-mate killer, without exaggeration. It`s simply dreadful to be paired with him,” stated Nico Rosberg. He emphasized the unprecedented gap, noting that no teammate has managed to consistently stay within six tenths of a second, which is a massive difference in F1. Rosberg used Yuki`s current struggles as a prime example, illustrating the immense difficulty even for a talented driver, who feels confident but is significantly off the pace. Rosberg`s conclusion is that this consistent pattern suggests Verstappen is simply operating on a different level than everyone else.

Karun Chandhok presented a different perspective, suggesting it`s not solely Verstappen`s talent but also the specific nature of the Red Bull car. He drew parallels to MotoGP, where bikes are often developed around a key rider`s style, making adaptation difficult for others. While F1 drivers are generally expected to adapt quickly (citing Carlos Sainz and Oscar Piastri as examples of successful transitions), Chandhok believes the Red Bull situation is an extreme case. He compared it to historical instances like the Ducati motorcycle being uniquely suited to Casey Stoner. Chandhok concluded that for top drivers considering Red Bull, there`s a significant risk because the car appears to require a very specific and potentially extreme driving approach tailored to Verstappen.