Twenty-year-old French Algerian graduates from Red Bull Junior Team to partner Japanese driver next year
Visa Cash App Racing Bulls (VCARB) have announced Isack Hadjar will join Yuki Tsunoda for the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship as the team sees another Red Bull Junior Driver step up to into one of the most sought-after seats in motorsport. Here is all you need to know:
– After New Zealand driver Liam Lawson moved up to join Max Verstappen at Oracle Red Bull Racing for next season following Checo’s Departure, there was a gap to fill at Visa Cash App Racing Bulls and they moved quickly.
– Hadjar will follow in the footsteps of Verstappen, Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo as he becomes the 18th driver to rise to Formula One from the Red Bull Junior Programme, which started in 2006.
– The 20-year-old, who has French and Algerian dual nationality, started out in karting and impressed in French F4 competition before finishing fourth overall in the 2022 FIA Formula 3 Championship.
– After an encouraging first FIA Formula 2 Championship season, he switched to the prestigious Campos Racing team where he swiftly established himself as one of the most promising prospects with four race wins and eight podiums this season banking him second overall.
– Hadjar’s rapid upward trajectory has included big wins at classic venues such as Imola, Spa-Francorchamps and Silverstone with his test driver and reserve driver stints for Oracle Red Bull Racing and Visa Cash App Racing Bulls now converted to an actual race seat alongside Japanese driver Tsunoda, who will be suiting up for his fifth season with the team.
– 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 One 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 Programme, like myself, and we’ve shared a similar path to F1. He’s very experienced and will be good to learn from.”
– Team Principal Laurent Mekies said: “We’re excited to have Isack with us next year, bringing a new and fresh dynamic to the team alongside Yuki in 2025. As a product of the Red Bull Junior Program, his journey to Formula One 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. I believe Isack and Yuki will make a great partnership. Yuki brings invaluable experience to the team, he’s shown incredible resilience and maturity, which will be crucial for the team as we strive to hit all our aims and objectives in 2025.”
– CEO Peter Bayer said: “Firstly, we must congratulate Liam for his step up to Oracle Red Bull Racing. As a sister team and as an incubator for Formula One talent, our strategic objective is to foster and nurture our drivers in preparation for this next step. With this move and by bringing Isack into VCARB, it’s a testament to our longstanding commitment to develop the best young drivers in motorsport, as well as proof of concept of the Red Bull Junior Program. Having a younger driver supports our mission to speak to a younger audience, so we look forward to bringing new and existing fans on the journey with us.”
