From uncertain talent to revelation: How Marko's confidence brought Hadjar to F1

13:30, 14 Aug

byLudo van Denderen

Isack Hadjar is one of the revelations of the 2025 season in Formula 1. It could have easily been different, if Helmut Marko hadn't continued to believe in him.

As one of the last drivers, Isack Hadjar found out he would stand on the Formula 1 grid in 2025, because for some time there was doubt whether the Frenchman was good enough.

'Formula 1 does not come with luck'

There is no longer any doubt about that, not least with the young driver of Racing Bulls himself.

"If you make it to F1, then it's not by luck. So obviously, you're quite okay”, Hadjar tells among others GPblog.

“But at the same time, you always have doubts, and it's normal. You always question yourself whether you're good enough. And that's what I thought, you know, I had doubts because I didn't have a lot of mileage.”

“It's a big step to F2. But in the end, now I'm fully used to its speed and I'm not surprised [that it's going so well]”, says Hadjar.

Isack Hadjar has made a breakthrough in Formula 1 in '26

Hadjar doubted making it to F1

According to the Frenchman - who is on the nomination list to become Max Verstappen's teammate at Red Bull Racing - his pure speed and talent have always been there. In recent years, he hasn't learned to drive faster.

But Hadjar had doubts, going back several years: “I remember my year in Hitech in F2 has been an absolute nightmare and at this moment I'm like, I'm never going to make it to F1, but thankfully I had very strong support from Helmut [Marko].”

“He kept believing and gave me a second chance, which I took. As well as mental strength, obviously, because you need to not give up in those moments.”

"You need strong people around and people that trust in you. And this is what I had."