In a major shake-up for the 2025 Formula 1 season, Oracle Red Bull Racing has confirmed that Isack Hadjar will replace Yuki Tsunoda as Max Verstappen's teammate. The announcement ends weeks of intense speculation about the second seat alongside the reigning world champion.
End of an Era: Tsunoda's Red Bull Journey Concludes
The decision means Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda, 25, will lose his race seat with the senior team at the end of the current campaign. Tsunoda has been with the Red Bull driver programme for seven years and spent five seasons in F1, the last four as Verstappen's teammate. Team CEO Laurent Mekies paid tribute to Tsunoda's development, stating he had matured into a "complete driver" excelling in both qualifying and race craft.
However, Tsunoda will not leave the Red Bull family entirely. He has been retained as a test and reserve driver for the 2026 season, keeping him within the organisation's ranks.
The New Hope: Hadjar's Meteoric Rise
Stepping into the coveted seat is 21-year-old French rookie Isack Hadjar. His promotion comes after what the team described as an "impressive" debut season with the sister team, Visa Cash App Racing Bulls. Hadjar, the highest-ranked driver from a midfield team this year, secured his maiden podium at the Dutch Grand Prix.
Mekies emphasised that Hadjar had shown "great maturity, rapid learning and, most importantly, the raw speed which is the number one requirement in this sport." He expressed confidence that Hadjar could "prosper alongside Max and produce magic on track."
An elated Hadjar said: "I am very grateful to Oracle Red Bull Racing for giving me the opportunity and the trust to race at the highest level of Formula One... I feel ready to go to Oracle Red Bull Racing and I am happy and proud that they feel the same." He also highlighted the prospect of learning from Verstappen as a key attraction.
Silencing Speculation: Verstappen's Future and Title Decider
The driver announcement also draws a line under a period of wider uncertainty for Red Bull. Earlier in the season, there were strong rumours that Max Verstappen himself was in talks with Mercedes, potentially leveraging a clause in his contract which runs until 2028. The four-time world champion quashed those rumours in August, claiming people "just like to create drama" about his future.
Verstappen now heads into this Sunday's final race of the season in Abu Dhabi firmly in the championship fight. He currently sits second in the standings, 12 points behind leader Lando Norris of McLaren, with Norris's teammate Oscar Piastri a close third, just four points behind Verstappen. Meanwhile, McLaren has already secured the Constructors' Championship for a second consecutive year.
This dramatic driver change signals Red Bull's intent to build for the future, betting on youthful talent alongside their established superstar, while the final act of the 2024 season promises a thrilling climax.
