Isack Hadjar is set to make his Formula 1 debut in 2025, but the newly minted Racing Bulls driver already feels at home in the premier class. Despite the Franco-Algerian driver’s limited experience with an F1 car, and his eagerness to learn from teammate Yuki Tsunoda, he has had no trouble adapting so far.
Isack Hadjar is one of six rookies making their debut on the grid in 2025. The Franco-Algerian driver replaces Liam Lawson, who has been promoted to Red Bull, as Yuki Tsunoda’s teammate. Hadjar had previously sat in a Formula 1 car during free practice sessions and the post-season test, but it was in Bahrain where he got his first real taste of driving.
Hadjar’s initial reaction after his test session could have landed him a fine from the FIA. “It’s f***ing fast,” the young driver told Motorsport Week. “At this point, that’s all the feedback I can give you. I don’t have much experience in Formula 1. For instance, I wouldn’t know how a McLaren drives. So for me, this is fast.”
Comfortable
The driver finished second in the Formula 2 championship last year, behind fellow debutant Gabriel Bortoleto. In December, Hadjar was announced as the final driver on the 2025 Formula 1 grid. Despite his rapid promotion to the premier class, the Franco-Algerian feels comfortable in the Racing Bulls car.
“It doesn’t feel like this is my first day,” Hadjar explains. “I adapt very quickly.” The driver is pleased to have the more experienced Yuki Tsunoda by his side. “Yuki is a good guy. We get along well. He’s the only driver in the same car, so it’s no surprise that I want to be faster than him. But I have no experience at all, so for now, I’m eager to learn from him.”
