Isack Hadjar has become Max Verstappen’s most competitive teammate at Red Bull Racing since Daniel Ricciardo, according to former F1 TV presenter Will Buxton.

The claim came during the latest *Up To Speed* podcast on 10 July, where Buxton and ex-driver David Coulthard dissected Red Bull’s driver depth ahead of the 2026 season.

What did Will Buxton say about Isack Hadjar?

Buxton argued that Hadjar’s performances have pushed him to the top of Red Bull’s internal fight for seats. He called the Frenchman the closest Verstappen has faced in the team since Ricciardo’s 2016–19 stint.

“Hadjar, I’d argue, is probably the best team-mate Max Verstappen has had since Daniel Ricciardo in terms of how close he is to him,” Buxton said. “So Hadjar’s doing a stellar job.”

The praise follows Hadjar’s strong debut campaign in 2025, where he finished P6 in the drivers’ standings with 128 points, including three podiums.

Why Red Bull’s driver dilemma matters for Isack Hadjar

Red Bull now faces an embarrassment of riches with four potential race seats across its two teams: the main Red Bull squad and the sister team Racing Bulls. The surplus includes Hadjar, Oliver Bearman, Liam Lawson, and Nikola Tsolov, who just rattled off three straight F2 wins at Silverstone on 28 June, 5 July, and 6 July.

Coulthard called it “a good problem to have,” noting Red Bull’s history of leveraging junior talent into top-line investments. He hinted the team could move Hadjar if another opportunity arose.

“I think Red Bull is ahead of the game in terms of its motorsport investment,” Coulthard said. “So it’s a good problem to have.”

Hadjar’s rise complicates any decision to keep Bearman or Lawson as reserve drivers beyond 2025.

What’s next for Isack Hadjar at Red Bull?

Buxton expects Hadjar to remain in the spotlight as Red Bull weighs its 2026 lineup. The team’s next major decision could come after the summer break, with the Austrian GP on 3 August serving as a key checkpoint.

Hadjar’s contract runs through 2027, but Red Bull’s habit of reshaping rosters means nothing is guaranteed. His 2025 season—where he outpaced teammate Verstappen in quali 10–6—has already rewritten expectations.

Tsolov’s surge in F2 only adds to the noise. The Bulgarian rookie’s triple-header at Silverstone, capped by a feature and sprint double, has turned heads in Milton Keynes.

Coulthard tipped Tsolov for a future F1 call-up, saying: “Listen for that name. He drives very well and has a great personality out of the car.”

How deep is Red Bull’s driver pool?

Red Bull’s pipeline now stretches from F2 to its senior squad. Hadjar, Bearman, Lawson, and Tsolov all rank among the sport’s hottest prospects, each with recent race wins or standout performances.

Buxton stressed that Red Bull’s dilemma reflects its broader strategy: over-invest in talent to stay ahead. The team’s driver academy has already produced two race winners in 2025—Hadjar and Bearman.

“Red Bull do find themselves once again in a quandary where they have too many drivers for their seats,” Buxton said. “Whether Max stays or gets swapped out, the options are stacked.”