Formula 1 News: Hadjar putting Tsunoda's seat in doubt

(GMM) Isack Hadjar is “definitely” becoming a candidate to line up as Max Verstappen’s next teammate.

That’s the view of Red Bull’s powerful advisor Dr Helmut Marko, who has been singing the praises of the 20-year-old French-Algerian throughout his rookie season at Racing Bulls so far.

At the same time, while Marko admits that Yuki Tsunoda is closer to Verstappen than Liam Lawson or Sergio Perez managed in the last 12 months, the 82-year-old is beginning to point out Tsunoda’s mistakes.

“Yuki is a headstrong type, and emotional as well,” Marko told sport.de. “He just can’t make any mistakes, that’s the most important thing.”

Dr Helmut Marko, Team Consultant of Oracle Red Bull Racing talks with Yuki Tsunoda of Japan and Oracle Red Bull Racing in the Pitlane during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Bahrain at Bahrain International Circuit on April 11, 2025 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool //

Indeed, after Tsunoda’s spectacular rollover crash at Imola, the Japanese no longer has the same specification of 2025 car as the one in Verstappen’s hands.

Hadjar, however, is also making mistakes – two hefty whacks of the barriers on Friday at Monaco alone. He was visibly furious after one hit, repeatedly calling himself “stupid” afterwards.

“The barriers were too close for him,” laughed Marko.

“He should focus on racing rather than making these comments about his intelligence, but it wasn’t because of the speed. He did hit the wall twice, but he was fast.”

Marko is more willing to forgive rookie Hadjar’s mistakes compared to Tsunoda, who is contesting his contesting his fifth consecutive F1 season in 2025.

As for Hadjar, Marko admitted: “He is definitely a big surprise.

“He was fast from the start, except for his mistake in Melbourne. Just like Max, he is already on top of things after three laps, even if he doesn’t know many circuits.

“He is in Q3 every time, scores in the points every time,” the Austrian added. “He is inconspicuous, unspectacular, but lightning fast.

“With a bit more experience, he can definitely become a candidate,” Marko said, referring to the seat at Red Bull Racing currently occupied by Tsunoda.

May 16, 2025

(GMM) An exciting future lies ahead for Isack Hadjar (pictured) – as Yuki Tsunoda begins to “feel the heat on his neck”.

That’s the assessment of Red Bull’s famous and notorious F1 consultant Dr Helmut Marko, as he heaps more praise on the opening phase of rookie Hadjar’s Formula 1 career at the junior outfit Racing Bulls.

Hadjar, 20, is outperforming his more experienced Liam Lawson, who had impressed Red Bull chiefs so much last year that he was selected over Tsunoda for the seat at the main Red Bull team alongside Max Verstappen.

Tsunoda and Lawson’s places were rapidly swapped, and Marko is satisfied that the Japanese driver is at least performing better than the New Zealander did at Red Bull Racing.

However, Marko cannot stop raving about French-Algerian Hadjar.

“Hadjar is the big surprise for me,” the 82-year-old told Kronen Zeitung newspaper. “He delivers his performance calmly and as if it was second nature.

“It’s even more impressive considering that he does not know most of the circuits.”

Marko even admits that Hadjar is putting pressure on Red Bull Racing driver Tsunoda – especially as the Japanese’s backer Honda is moving to Aston Martin next year.

“Yuki already feels the heat on his neck,” the Austrian declared. “He loses ground as soon as he is under pressure.”