<figure id="attachment_3221943" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3221943" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-3221943 size-full" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/624fc8d5-isack-hadjar-epa-28_11_25.webp" alt="" width="1600" height="1000" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3221943" class="wp-caption-text">French driver Isack Hadjar reacts during a press conference ahead of the recent Formula One Singapore Grand Prix held at the Marina Bay Street Circuit. (EPA Images pic)</figcaption></figure>
DOHA: Star rookie Isack Hadjar told AFP he would relish &#8220;the incredible opportunity&#8221; of becoming Max Verstappen&#8217;s teammate at Red Bull next season.
The 21-year-old is considered favourite to move up from Red Bull&#8217;s sister team Racing Bulls to replace Yuki Tsunoda alongside Verstappen in 2026.
Reports suggest Red Bull are due to confirm the identity of Verstappen&#8217;s new teammate next week.
Aware of the magnitude of the challenge that might await him, the Frenchman nonetheless sees a partnership with Verstappen as a decisive step in his career.
&#8220;Against my teammates, I&#8217;ve always been stronger,&#8221; but &#8220;alongside the best in the world, it&#8217;s an incredible opportunity to learn&#8221;, he told AFP in Doha ahead of this weekend&#8217;s Qatar Grand Prix and sprint race.
Hadjar is under no illusions of the task he could face if picked to drive Red Bull&#8217;s second car alongside the four-time sitting champion.
Asked whether he could beat the Dutchman if he were selected as teammate he replied with an emphatic &#8220;No&#8221;.
&#8220;He&#8217;s better in every aspect, he drives better, makes fewer mistakes, and he has more experience too,&#8221; said Hadjar, who has impressed on his debut campaign, securing a maiden podium with third in the Dutch Grand Prix.
He sits ninth in the championship standings having garnered 51 points.
Verstappen is still in the hunt to claim a fifth successive title with two weekends remaining.
He goes into the penultimate round level with Oscar Piastri, the pair lagging 24 points behind McLaren&#8217;s Lando Norris.

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