Isack Hadjar produced one of the biggest upsets of the 2025 Formula 1 season by finishing third at the Dutch Grand Prix on Sunday. It\u2019s the first podium of his career. <\/p>\n
The Racing Bulls<\/a> driver becomes the fifth-youngest podium-finisher in the history of the sport. While there was an element of fortune, it certainly wasn\u2019t a fluke.<\/p>\n Hadjar<\/a> was perhaps the standout driver of qualifying as he snatched fourth on the grid, and he held onto that position under pressure from Charles Leclerc, who ultimately crashed out, and latterly George Russell.<\/p>\n Lando Norris\u2019 late failure then promoted him into the top three, and he held his nerve for the last few laps to take his rookie season to another level. Links with Red Bull<\/a> are now bound to intensify.<\/p>\n A recent report revealed that Hadjar is \u2018highly resistant\u2019 to joining Red Bull<\/a> in 2026. He\u2019s seen former teammate Yuki Tsunoda<\/a> struggle enormously this season, just as Liam Lawson, Sergio Perez, Alex Albon and Pierre Gasly did before him.<\/p>\n Hadjar\u2019s preference would be to stay at Racing Bulls for another year so he can continue his development. That way, by the time he makes the step up, he\u2019ll know he\u2019s ready.<\/p>\n What a moment for Isak Hadjar and Racing Bulls. If he wasn\u2019t a shoe-in to be Max Verstappen\u2019s teammate next year he must be now?<\/p>\n \u2014 Nate Saunders (@natesaundersF1) August 31, 2025<\/a> <\/p>\n View Tweet<\/p>\n But given that Red Bull manage his career, he could be \u2018compelled\u2019 to become Verstappen\u2019s teammate. And writing on X immediately after the race, ESPN journalist Nate Saunders suggested he was now a \u2018shoo-in\u2019 for the seat.<\/p>\n Tsunoda, who is out of contract at the end of the season, did at least end his scoreless run with a P10 finish. However, Hadjar is now 27 points and eight places above him in the standings.<\/p>\n Jacques Villeneuve tells Yuki Tsunoda he\u2019s already peaked at Red Bull<\/p>\n In the hands of most drivers, the Racing Bulls car may be superior to the Red Bull. The RB21 perhaps has a higher peak, but it seems extremely difficult to unlock, whereas the VCARB02 is known to be relatively compliant.<\/p>\n