Red Bull Junior Driver Isack Hadjar said “he’s next in line” to be promoted to Formula 1 as he fights for a spot on the 2025 grid.
The Frenchman is currently fighting for the Formula 2 title, driving for Campos and four and a half points behind series leader Gabriel Bortoleto with two rounds remaining.
Elsewhere, he appears to be in a fight with Williams protege Franco Colapinto for a position in the Red Bull/RB F1 set-up.
With Sergio Perez’s Red Bull career up in the air, there could be a seat spare to join Max Verstappen, Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda at the two F1 teams owned by the Austrian brand.
“I would say my chances [of a 2025 F1 drive] are alive, at least,” Hadjar told Autosport.
“Obviously, it’s just not down to me.
“There’s a lot going on at RB and Red Bull, anything can happen.
“And obviously, I’m next in line. So that’s just a fact.
“I don’t know what decisions they’re gonna take, but hopefully I’m here and trying to be ready for next year in any case.”
The class of 2024 in F2 is clearly a talented one.
This is proved by the impressive performances put on by Colapinto and Oliver Bearman in F1 this year.
Moreover, fellow F2 stars Bortoleto, Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Jack Doohan (who last raced in the series in 2023) show there’s a strong batch of rookies coming through the ranks.
“It shows that our generation is good,” exclaimed Hadjar.
“For a while, we thought that experience was the main thing, and then you can’t jump in and beat the guy that has 10 years in F1 – but in fact, you can.
“If you’re fast, you’re fast. So they did good for us, showing what the F2 grid can produce going to F1.”
Colapinto’s performances hindering Isack Hadjar’s F1 chances
A thorn in Hadjar’s side is Colapinto, who Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner has already enquired about.
The Argentine is now a known entity in F1 and has proven since his debut at Monza that he is more than capable at a GP level.
Hadjar meanwhile, has relinquished control of a once commanding series lead in F2 and argues that “My experience so far in F1 has been three FP1s, and the run plans are always quite limited with laps.”
Still, given his place in the Red Bull Junior ranks, Hadjar is hopeful that will work in his favour as he looks to join the F1 elite.
“[Colapinto is] a driver that’s fast, and he proves that he’s fast”, said Hadjar.
“I’ve been in [the Red Bull] programme for three years, I’m second in F2, I’m the reserve for the team…
“…that’s how it is.”
Hadjar is “really happy” with his showing F2 this year, scoring 145 of his 165-point tally in Sunday feature races alone, despite “a really tough season so far, with too many downs and mechanical failures.”
If the F1 dream isn’t realised for next year, Hadjar will try to make peace with a reserve role.
“I mean, I would not be okay with that, obviously, because you want to drive,” Hadjar said.
“But if that is what it has to be, then I’m going to do it and think ahead.”
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