Hadjar's Red Bull rise draws attention

Formula1.com and Motorsport.com reported fresh praise for Isack Hadjar at Red Bull, with the French driver running eighth in 2026 on 52 points.

Formula1.com reported that Isack Hadjar made further progress at Red Bull over the Silverstone weekend and drew praise from his team boss. The outlet also reported that Hadjar has been giving Max Verstappen a closer contest than the Dutchman's recent team-mates, while stressing the 2026 picture is still developing.

Hadjar is eighth in the drivers' championship on 52 points, with Verstappen seventh on 76. That gap keeps Verstappen as Red Bull's reference point, and his wider Formula 1 record stands at 71 wins, 51 poles and 129 podiums from 242 starts between 2015 and 2026.

Motorsport.com separately reported that Will Buxton said on a podcast that Hadjar is the most competitive Verstappen team-mate since Daniel Ricciardo. That remains Buxton's assessment rather than a confirmed change inside Red Bull, but it adds to the attention around Hadjar after 33 Formula 1 starts across 2025 and 2026, with one podium and a best finish of third.