Why Hadjar and Tsunoda are an extremely interesting duo at Racing Bulls
Red Bull Contentpool
General
- Ludo van Denderen
With the recent announcement of Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls will undoubtedly be one team to keep an eye on in 2025. Outbursts from both drivers over the radio can be predicted in advance at Red Bull Racing's sister team. Both Yuki Tsunoda and newly appointed Isack Hadjar are hotheaded drivers when that visor goes down. Not only in terms of their characters is this pairing interesting, however.
It must have been a bitter pill for Tsunoda to learn that he will not be promoted to Red Bull Racing again. Although Christian Horner, Red Bull Racing's team boss, says, "Never say never", it is not to be expected that the Japanese will ever again get the chance to become Max Verstappen's teammate at the Milton Keynes-based squad. For some reason, the Briton does not fancy the Honda-backed protégé, who will now enter his fifth season with the junior team.
Is Tsunoda still thinking in the team's interest?
No doubt that realisation has now definitely sunk in with Tsunoda as well, which may make him think more of himself than team interests. After all, there is little left for him to gain in the Red Bull family. He needs to start making sure he looks good to rival teams - to earn a new opportunity in the 2026 season. When Honda switches to Aston Martin after next season, that team would eventually be an ideal destination for Tsunoda.
There is a real chance that the experienced Tsunoda will prevail over Isack Hadjar, a talented driver, but also someone about whom there are doubts: Is he a future race winner, even a championship contender? Helmut Marko, in charge of the Red Bull Junior Team, already hinted that Arvid Lindblad instead is, in his eyes, the Red Bull Junior Team's biggest talent. The Briton (17) is starting his first season in Formula 2, in which he is expected to make an immediate impact.
Immediate pressure for Hadjar:
It is expected that Red Bull junior driver Arvid Lindblad will be allowed to join Racing Bulls during some free practice sessions in '25, in addition to doing the necessary test work in older F1 cars. No one should be surprised if Lindblad gets the chance at Racing Bulls in 2026. Who will he replace then? Possibly Yuki Tsunoda, but Hadjar, too, must therefore show that he will be straight away on the pace next year. In short, the pressure is on the young Frenchman right away.
As indicated, Hadjar is quite an outspoken type, famous and notorious for his verbal outbursts over the radio. Tsunoda is also not a sweetheart but is doubtlessly tamer than his new teammate. For Racing Bulls, the task awaits to teach Hadjar to control his emotions a bit better.
Tsunoda and Hadjar are thus an interesting duo from whom much is expected at Racing Bulls. More than ever, the team is going to use parts from Red Bull Racing, which, on paper, should make the RB car a serious contender for a solid place at the top of the midfield. Now, it is up to Tsunoda and Hadjar - each with different interests - to make that happen.
This article was written in collaboration with Toby Nixon
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