P1racenews AI automatic summary:
F1 star’s MUM found out he would be Verstappen’s team-mate before he did
Red Bull F1 driver Isack Hadjar’s mum knew about his move to become Max Verstappen’s teammate before he did. After an impressive rookie season, Hadjar was promoted to the Red Bull seat for the 2026 F1 season, replacing Yuki Tsunoda. Despite it being his first season, Hadjar secured his first podium and outperformed Tsunoda and Liam Lawson in the championship. He will partner with Verstappen in the new era of power unit production with Ford Racing. The team will start the season without Christian Horner and Helmut Marko, who left after 20 years with Red Bull’s outfit in 2025. New team principal Laurent Mekies might help Red Bull challenge McLaren with the new regulations introduced in 2026. However, the team could also face setbacks that might influence Verstappen’s decision to stay or leave. The FIA meeting regarding Horner’s potential return could impact the team’s future prospects.
