For next year, Liam Lawson's name is regularly in the conversation. Will the Red Bull junior get a chance at Visa Cash App RB, it is still unknown. Much will also depend on the form of Sergio Perez, but apart from Lawson, there is another home-grown candidate aiming for an F1 seat. Namely Isack Hajdar.
Hadjar made his debut in Formula 2 last year with a fourteenth place in the standings. Not very impressive, but this year the Frenchman is going for the wind. After eight out of 14 weekends, Hadjar is in first place, ahead of runner-up Paul Aron by 16 points. At Silverstone last weekend, Hadjar won the main race.
When Horner was asked at Silverstone where GPblog and others present whether Hadjar would be an option for one of the four available seats next year (Red Bull and Visa Cash App RB), the 50-year-old team boss replied. "He's doing a good job. He had a good weekend this weekend. Good to see both Isaac and Arvind Lindblad win the Formula 3 race this morning. Two outstanding talents that are coming through. Again, he's making a strong case for next year, which is why we're not in any rush to finalise seats in the sister team."
So does Hadjar have a chance? "There is always a chance," Horner said. The 19-year-old driver is competing for one seat with Daniel Ricciardo and Lawson. Indeed, Yuki Tsunoda already extended his contract, so he will be in the car 2025 anyway. Arvind Linblad looks - if he continues like this - to be ready for an F2 seat. The 16-year-old Briton occupies second place in the F3 championship in his debut year.
Meanwhile, Hadjar drove Sergio Perez's RB20 in Britain during the first free practice session last weekend. He came to a 19th time, one-and-a-half seconds slower than Max Verstappen.
Hadjar? Really? This is a situation of one good year performance currently doesn't make up for the last 5 years in single seater racing and 5 years in karts before that and has never won a single championship?
At least Lindblad has 5 karting titles under his belt.
I really don't like Hadjar and his constant whining but he's quick. In F2 races he's mostly moving forward. This season he has 3 main race wins. That's a good sign. For example Lawson never won a F2 main race. So to have 3, is big plus.
The negative is that it took 2 years in the series to start winning. When usually talented drivers need half a season or so to start winning. From his first year, he only has to show 1 podium and this came from sprint race, that doesn't count much in my books.
So by the looks of it, it seems Hadjar is good, but really slow learner. Fighting with a rookie on his 2nd season does make it worse for him. I can see him getting into F1 if luck is on his side, but not top material for sure.