Red Bull young gun Isack Hadjar is set to be replace Liam Lawson as the second Racing Bulls driver on the Formula One grid for 2025.
Lawson, 22, was announced as world champion Max Verstappen’s new partner in the Red Bull paddock this week after stepping in for Sergio Perez, who endured a tough campaign.
The Kiwi has only raced in 11 Grand Prixs across two seasons and attracted the ire of both Fernando Alonso and Perez after some unconventional manoeuvres on the track.
His driving impressed chiefs, however, and he beat team-mate Yuki Tsunoda to the spot on the parent team’s roster.
Now Tsunoda’s new colleague at Racing Bulls, formerly RB, has been announced, completing the F1 grid for the 2025 campaign.
Hadjar, 20, will step in for Lawson after coming second in the F2 championship to Sauber hot shot Gabriel Bortoleto.
Isack Hadjar completes the 2025 F1 grid after being announced as the new Racing Bulls driver
The 20-year-old came second in Formula 2 and made four Practice One appearances in F1
He replaces Liam Lawson who will partner Max Verstappen at Red Bull next season
He is the latest name on the Red Bull team sheet to have come through their junior programme with 18 drivers in the past having graduated along the same pathway.
The Frenchman has impressed when given the opportunity, making four Practice One appearances across two seasons.
He 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 1 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 Program, 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: ‘[Hadjar’s] journey to Formula 1 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.’
Hadjar partners Yuki Tsunoda, who was snubbed as new Red Bull driver in favour of the Kiwi
Sergio Perez’s exit from the Austrian manufacturer was confirmed on Wednesday
Team principal Christian Horner has said that Lawson demonstrated that he is a ‘real racer’
Hadjar is one of four drivers who will make the step up from F2 to the top level of racing next season after Bortoleto, Andrea Kimi Antonelli at Mercedes and Oliver Bearman at Haas.
They are not the only young talents competing in next year’s circuit with Lawson turning his cameo appearances into a permanent slot at Red Bull and former F2 racer Jack Doohan arriving at Alpine.
Lawson made his Formula One debut with AlphaTauri in the Netherlands last season as stand-in for the injured Daniel Ricciardo, and scored his first points in the following race in Singapore.
After a period as reserve driver, he took over Ricciardo’s role at the Racing Bulls team permanently earlier this year with a ninth-place finish in the US. He has started 11 grands prix in total.
‘This is a lifelong dream for me – it’s something I’ve wanted and worked towards since I was eight years old,’ said Lawson. ‘I am super excited to work alongside Max and learn from a world champion. I can’t wait to get going.’
Team principal Christian Horner said: ‘Liam has demonstrated that he is not only capable of delivering strong results but that he’s also a real racer, not afraid to mix it with the best and come out on top.
‘There’s no doubt that racing alongside Max, a four-time champion and undoubtedly one of the greatest drivers ever seen in F1, is a daunting task, but I’m sure Liam can rise to the challenge and deliver some outstanding results for us next year.’
The string of changes across the grid mean that only McLaren and Aston Martin retain the same two drivers as last season.
