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Red Bull wants “unbelievable” protege “to continue to surprise us” in F1 2026
Red Bull Formula 1 team boss Laurent Mekies praises Isack Hadjar and hopes he will “continue to surprise” while partnering Max Verstappen in 2026. Hadjar debuted with the team last season and had a strong performance throughout the 24-round calendar. He scored his first F1 points in the 2025 season at Japan with an eighth-place finish and achieved a best of sixth in Monaco early in the campaign. After the summer break, Hadjar claimed his first podium at Zandvoort and finished 12th overall, ahead of teammate Liam Lawson, earning a promotion to the main Red Bull team for 2026. Mekies acknowledges the challenges of transitioning from the sister team to Red Bull but emphasizes the belief in Hadjar’s talent and development potential, encouraging him to continue impressing and surprising in the upcoming seasons. The team sees Hadjar’s successful rookie season as a strong foundation for further growth and development, aiming for continued improvement and surprises in the future.
