Rhonan Colquhoun 2:25am 21st December 2024
ISACK Hadjar will graduate from Formula One's feeder series and will compete the 2025 F1 Season alongside Yuki Tsunoda at Racing Bulls.
The Frenchman, who finished runner-up to Gabriel Bortoleto in Formula 2, will replace Red Bull bound Liam Lawson at Racing Bulls and will partner Yuki Tsunoda.
Hadjar, who had previous running in Free Practice sessions in Mexico and Abu Dhabi in 2023 and earlier this year at the British Grand Prix and at the post-season tyre test in Abu Dhabi, has been part of the Red Bull Junior Team since 2022.
There was speculation that as early as July this year that there might be an opening at Racing Bulls with Red Bull team principal Christian Horner "praising" Hadjar's performance in F2 and hinting at a chance of promotion heading into 2025.
The announcement comes just days after the news that Sergio Perez would not continue with Red Bull into 2025 which then triggered a series of driver moves with Lawson named as Perez's replacement and Hadjar as Lawson's replacement at RB.
On the confirmation of the signing, Hadjar's new boss, Racing Bulls team principal Laurent Mekies, said: "Isack's journey to F1 has been nothing short of outstanding. He has the talent and drive necessary to compete at the highest level, and we have every confidence that he will adapt quickly and make a significant impact."
In his second season of Formula 2, Hadjar built on the promise shown in 2023 by taking his first Pole Position, four Feature Race victories and scoring points on a consistent basis which propelled him into the championship fight.
Despite leading the championship heading into the Summer Break, he would eventually be overhauled by Bortoleto come the final race - through a series of mistakes and bad luck - and trail the Brazilian by 22 and a half points.
Hadjar will become the fourth Formula 2 driver alongside Oliver Bearman, Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Gabriel Bortoleto to have graduated to F1 next season with all securing permanent drives.
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