Isack Hadjar's rise from tears on F1 debut to stunning Dutch GP podium as Red Bull make decision
There is no rookie of the year award in Formula 1 but, if there was, Isack Hadjar would be a leading contender – his case only strengthened by qualifying a very impressive podium at Zandvoort
As far as Formula 1 debuts can go, his was about as bad as it can get. Isack Hadjar was given a baptism of fire in difficult weather conditions at the Australian Grand Prix in March, initially qualifying 11th but failing to start as he crashed on the formation lap.
That led to tears from Hadjar as what had happened to him sank in. As he trudged back to the Melbourne paddock, one of the first to throw an arm around him was Anthony Hamilton, father of seven-time F1 champion Lewis who just happens to be the Frenchman's biggest idol.
The 20-year-old has come a long way since then. Four points in his third Grand Prix start at Suzuka helped to settle him down on the F1 grid and he has gone from strength to strength since, culminating in a stunning first podium on Sunday at the Dutch Grand Prix.
His total of 37 points for 2025 makes him the second quickest Red Bull driver on the grid behind only Max Verstappen, despite being the only one of the four to have not been the Dutchman's team-mate at some point this year. Hadjar is also the second highest-scoring rookie, behind Kimi Antonelli in the much more competitive Mercedes.
And, at Zandvoort, he managed his most eye-catching performance to date. McLaren dominated qualifying to lock out the front row, with Verstappen third quickest at his home track. And behind that trio of F1 heavyweights was, much to everyone's surprise, Hadjar.
In 40 years of the team currently competing as Racing Bulls, stretching back to before Red Bull's ownership of the Faenza-based outfit which started life as the humble Minardi outfit in 1985, a driver representing them has only qualified in the top four for a Grand Prix on 13 occasions.
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Hadjar's delight at having produced one of those remarkable results was evident as he punched the air and roared with delight over the radio after being informed of what he had just achieved. It was an outburst the likes of which we don't often expect from a driver who only rarely raises a smile.
And his mood had only improved a day later as Lando Norris' engine failure in the Grand Prix opened the door for a first podium in F1. He beamed: "It feels a bit unreal. What was most surprising to me was keeping that fourth place the whole race.
"Unfortunately for Lando, we took advantage but we did no mistakes. The car was on rails the whole weekend and I am really happy because I maximised what I had, made no mistakes and brought home the podium. I'm so happy for my guys. This was always the target since I was a kid, so hopefully there will be much more [to come].
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Converting that excellent qualifying result into yet more points and a podium to remember for Racing Bulls was another excellent result for a young racer who did not get the hype of some of the other rookies who stepped up to F1 this year, but whose stock continues to rise as his maiden campaign goes on.
And it was more evidence supporting the assertion that Hadjar should be the next man given the task of performing next to Verstappen in the main Red Bull team. Though it has been decided that, for now, the Frenchman will remain with Racing Bulls with a call over their 2026 plans to be made in the coming months.