Isack Hadjar

French-Algerian Isack Hadjar climbed through the Red Bull junior programme and impressed enough in the junior categories and his first F1 season to earn a startling promotion: a seat alongside Max Verstappen at the senior Red Bull team for 2026.

It is one of the toughest assignments in the sport — few drivers have emerged from the Verstappen team-mate role with their reputation enhanced. For Hadjar, simply holding his own against the four-time champion would mark him out as a future star.