Hadjar says he learned the limits of high expectations as an F1 rookie

Isack Hadjar believes among the key lessons he learned from the 2025 season as a Formula 1 rookie were to not expect too much of himself and to shake off setbacks.

The Frenchman made his debut for Racing Bulls and impressed alongside first Yuki Tsunoda and then Liam Lawson, earning himself a promotion to Red Bull for 2026. During last year, there were occasions when Hadjar was extremely vocal on team radio or animated in the cockpit, often criticizing his own performance, but he believes he was sometimes guilty of setting unrealistic targets.

“If anything, I just noticed [in 2025] that my expectations and what I was willing to do was sometimes too high for the abilities I have at the moment,” Hadjar said. “In qualifying, I'm always mad because I didn't get the perfect lap. I didn't maximize every corner, every braking. There's always something missing.

“At the same time, it's just my first year. If anything, I was maybe being too hard and leading to some mistakes at times because I put myself so much pressure to deliver and being at the standard I want to. It leads to mistakes.”

One of the lowest points of Hadjar’s season came at the very start of the year, when he crashed out on the formation lap of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, but he says he took strength from the incident.

“Maybe I would have scored points in Melbourne and then have a good season after that too. But I believe everything happens for a reason, and you move on," he said. "It's part of my history. My first F1 start I didn't take part in it, which sucks still, but that's how it is.

“I know I have a strong ability to get back up to my feet, but this was just another big punch in the face. And I handled it very, very well; it reinforced this belief I have in myself.”

Now set for his first season at Red Bull, Hadjar adds he is not celebrating the step up too heavily as he doesn’t believe he has proven anything at the top level yet.

“Unfortunately, signing a contract is not what I consider an achievement," he said. "An achievement would be living up to the expectations at Red Bull doing the job. This would be an accomplishment.”