Red Bull Racing has decided to break away from its tumultuous past regarding the choice of its second driver. With Isack Hadjar by their side, the Austrian team hopes to finally turn the page on the second seat curse, which has seen so many talents extinguished prematurely. The stakes are high: transforming this cursed seat into a springboard for success.
A Management to Reassess
Laurent Mekies, the director of Red Bull, has not hidden the difficulties encountered with his drivers in recent seasons. Speaking out, he admitted that the management of the second seat had not been up to par, and that it was time to do better with Isack Hadjar. This young Frenchman, promoted after a particularly successful rookie season, replaces Yuki Tsunoda, who had a chaotic 2025, just like his predecessors.
The record of previous drivers is clear: Pierre Gasly, Alexander Albon, Sergio Pérez, Liam Lawson, and now Tsunoda have all struggled to establish themselves alongside Max Verstappen. The list of drivers who have “fallen in battle” for this “cursed” seat continues to grow. Only Sergio Pérez has managed to last more than one season before his adventure ended in shadow and difficulty.
A Fresh Start for Red Bull
For 2026, Red Bull seems eager to start anew. Laurent Mekies, who arrived mid-last season to replace Christian Horner, aims to exorcise the demons of the past. With Hadjar, the team not only aims to restore its reputation but also to transform its second car into a true force on the grid.
During a recent exchange at the Autosport Business Exchange in London, Mekies took the time to reflect on Tsunoda’s journey. He clearly expressed his desire to change the game with Hadjar: “We need to do a better job with this second car, and that includes the second half of last season.” Sincere words that show a necessary awareness for the future.
A Challenge to Overcome
Mekies is aware that the road will be fraught with challenges. “There is no simple solution. It’s a complex equation that we are approaching as such,” he stated. He firmly believes in Isack Hadjar’s incredible speed. “The level at which he started last year, his baseline speed, was exceptional. On par with the very best.”
However, the director of Red Bull reminds that great drivers do not settle for a good starting point: they continuously improve. “It’s not just about gaining maturity or improving the dialogue with engineers; they actually become faster.” This perspective is essential for a young driver starting in such a competitive environment as Formula 1.
A Unique Opportunity with the Regulation Overhaul
The fact that Hadjar arrives at a time of complete F1 regulation overhaul in 2026 could work in his favor. Mekies sees it as a valuable opportunity for the young driver to fully adapt to his team and car. “Isack probably won’t like what I’m about to say, but in a way, the fact that everything is changing also gives him a reset in how to extract the most from the car,” he stated.
Indeed, Isack Hadjar approaches this new season with maximum intensity. “He even moved to London,” Mekies specifies. This life change shows the driver’s total commitment to his new challenge. “He keeps his feet on the ground; he’s a very humble person, and we will support him 360 degrees to ensure he can express all his talent in this car.”
Toward a Promising Future
With all these promises, the future looks bright for Red Bull and Isack Hadjar. The challenge is great, but the hopes placed in him could well reverse the trend of a seat that has often been synonymous with disappointment. The Austrian team seems determined to make this season a new chapter, far from the misfortunes of the past.
Fans and observers of Formula 1 eagerly await to see if Hadjar can break the curse of the second seat and bring a fresh breath to the team. For now, all the cards are in his hands. Let’s just hope he knows how to make the most of it.
