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They arrive, they learn, they impress. In Portrait of a Rookie, discover the new faces of F1, their first triumphs and fierce ambitions, and shine a spotlight on those who could become the stars of tomorrow.
A phone call to Monaco transformed a promising French teenager into Red Bull's new hope. When Isack Hadjar climbed onto the podium after his stunning victory in FRECA on May 22, 2021, Helmut Marko was already waiting for him at the hotel, accompanied by Sergio Pérez, Max Verstappen, and Christian Horner. “It was a bit crazy,” recalls Hadjar, “then Marko offered me a place in the Red Bull junior team.” That invitation marked the beginning of a meteoric rise through the ranks of single-seater racing. Born in Paris, Hadjar first got behind the wheel of a kart at the age of six, and eight years later he won the Winfield Volant, France's gateway to formula cars. In 2022, he joined Hitech Racing in British F3, scoring three wins, five podiums, and a fourth-place finish in the championship. This performance earned him an immediate promotion to F2 with the same team, a jump that most drivers have to earn over several seasons. The progression proved brutal. “The hardest year of my life was in F2,” admits the 20-year-old. ” There were weekends when I wondered why I was bothering to continue.” But his perseverance paid off: after a turbulent first season, he changed teams, fought for the 2024 title until the last Grand Prix and, despite losing out to Gabriel Bortoleto, secured a seat at Racing Bulls as Yuki Tsunoda's teammate.
On March 16 in Melbourne, Hadjar will become the 72nd French driver to start a Formula 1 race, joining compatriots Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon as the third French representative on the grid. With three drivers, France ranks second behind the United Kingdom, which has four.
The nickname Marko gave him, “mini-Prost,” reflects more than just a superficial resemblance. The Red Bull executive sees in Hadjar the composure and driving talent reminiscent of the four-time world champion. Hadjar, however, remains humble. “I know I still have a long way to go to match Alain's career,” he says, “but my goal this year is simply to learn and enjoy the experience.” This thirst for knowledge has not gone unnoticed. Laurent Mekies, Racing Bulls director, praises the rookie's humility and thirst for knowledge, pointing out that the transition from F2 to F1 can be difficult for newcomers who don't show such motivation. “Rookies are overwhelmed with information,” explains Mekies. “If they're not eager to absorb it, they'll struggle.”
Confident but cautious, Hadjar is open about his ambitions. “Do I think I have the potential to be the best in the world? Yes, absolutely,” he says. He also recognizes the fine line between speed and recklessness, especially in variable conditions. “Driving an F1 car in the rain or on an unfamiliar track is a big challenge,” he tells FT Sports. “Sprint weekends leave little time to adapt, so I know the learning curve will be steep.”
As he prepares for his debut, Hadjar faces a cutthroat environment. Red Bull's junior program is renowned for its rigorous standards, and only those who continually prove themselves retain their place. For the French prodigy, the journey from karting in Paris at the age of six to the world's biggest racing series has been rapid, but the real test begins now on the streets of Melbourne.
