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Hadjar comes with striking revelation: 'Knew then I was going to drive F1'
- Corwin Kunst
Isack Hadjar has known for a long time that he would drive in Formula 1 in 2025. The 20-year-old driver makes that revelation now that he has been finally confirmed as a driver for Visa Cash App RB. Was it already known then that Sergio Perez was going to leave the grid?
Hadjar says that halfway through the season, he already had a good idea of what was going to happen, but the process after that was anything but straightforward: "Halfway through the season, I already knew how it was going to go, to be honest. It went up and down after that, we came close to confirmation several times, but in this sport, everything can change quickly," he told Canal+ in an interview. "At one point, I even thought I would start next year as a reserve driver."
Despite the uncertainty, Hadjar managed to stay focused, even if his emotions went up and down: "Fortunately, I managed to show that I have the level to drive in Formula 1." Then, in Qatar, he received verbal confirmation that he would make the move to the premier class of motorsport, although the contract signing was still some time away. "It was almost certain, but until you have actually signed, nothing is guaranteed," he said.
Uncertainty for Hadjar surrounding his F1 future
It took some time before the young Frenchman actually signed a VCARB contract: "I hadn't signed anything after Qatar, so then sometimes I did think, 'F*ck, is something still going to happen?' I wasn't quite sure. After that, though, I had to sign a big pile of papers, because you never know with people in Formula 1!"
Hadjar will take over the 2025 seat from Liam Lawson, with the New Zealander replacing Sergio Perez at Red Bull Racing. Hadjar finished second in Formula 2 this season. Gabriel Bortoleto, racing for Sauber next year, grabbed the title.
This article was written in collaboration with Olly Darcy
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