Racing Bulls Formula 1 rookie Isack Hadjar has hailed his positive “more than boss-employee” relationship with Red Bull Advisor Helmut Marko.
Hadjar will line up alongside Yuki Tsunoda at Racing Bulls in 2025 thanks to Liam Lawson getting the nod to partner Max Verstappen at Red Bull.
The 2024 Formula 2 runner-up has been a part of the Red Bull junior programme since 2022, one that Marko is largely responsible for.
Hadjar laid heavy praise upon Marko when speaking with Canal+ ahead of his maiden F1 campaign.
“It really touches me that Helmut came all the way to Italy to sign my contract in person,” the French-Algerian said.
“I owe him a lot.
“The relationship I have with him is more than just boss-employee.
“If things aren’t going well, he won’t just criticise me.
“He respects me as a person and my approach to the sport.”
Hajdar relishing opportunity to share track with F1 stars
Hadjar only learnt of his Racing Bulls F1 promotion last month after the 2024 campaign had already concluded.
It has yet to fully dawn on the 20-year-old what the opportunity fully means, but Hadjar said that once he gets out on track during pre-season testing alongside the stars of the sport, the reality will hit home.
“I’ll only really realise it in Bahrain, during pre-season testing. I’ll be sharing the track with Lewis [Hamilton], [Fernando] Alonso, Max [Verstappen].”
Hadjar is one of several rookies joining F1 full-time in 2025 alongside Mercedes’ Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Alpine’s Jack Doohan, Haas’ Ollie Bearman and Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto.
With just a handful of FP1 and test outings under his belt, Hadjar will be up against and experienced F1 hand in Tsunoda, who is set to embark on his fifth season at Racing Bulls.
That being said, Hadjar is keeping a level-headed approach to his first season in F1.
“I know myself. As soon as I get in the car, I want to beat my teammate,” he said.
“The first races will be difficult, but I have to make sure I don’t get discouraged.”
Marko meanwhile, has charged Hadjar with keeping his cool during 2025.
The Austrian told the Inside Line F1 Podcast: Isack is fast but he has to keep his emotions under control and has to focus.
“One example when in Monte Carlo, there was a Safety Car and he was all of a sudden in front of him. He was moaning and complaining ‘Why?’ and so on,” Marko added.
“Instead, the guy had cold tyres. He should have driven to attack him instead of being all over the place on the radio.
“So, generally, focus on the important things and make less mistakes like he had a spin in the test in Abu Dhabi. I think he had a spin on a Friday outing.
“Be more consistent but the speed and everything is here. The rest comes through routine.”
READ MORE – Isack Hadjar has ‘always looked up to’ new Racing Bulls team-mate Yuki Tsunoda
