Isack Hadjar is set to make his Formula 1 debut with the Racing Bulls team, stepping up from Formula 2 after finishing second in the 2024 championship standings, missing out on the title by just a few points.

The Red Bull Junior Programme graduate takes over the seat left by Liam Lawson, who has moved to the main Red Bull team to replace Sergio Perez.

Moving from the closely-matched F2 series to the high-stakes world of F1 will be a big challenge for Hadjar. His main comparison will be his new teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, who is starting his fifth season with the team.

Over the years, Tsunoda has proven himself by outperforming teammates like Nick de Vries and Daniel Ricciardo. Hadjar will have to match up against Tsunoda’s experience and consistency.

Hadjar is aware of the difficulties ahead but remains confident in his determination to succeed and prove himself by beating Tsunoda.

“I know that my experience in F1 is limited,” Hadjar told Canal Plus France.

“There is a very high level on the grid. In the end, I know myself. I know that when I get in the car, I will want to beat Tsunoda.

“That’s the only real thing, especially in this category where we don’t all have the same car. It’s the only real objective I have in concrete terms.”

Like Tsunoda in his earlier years, Hadjar has a fiery personality and isn’t afraid to express his frustrations over the team radio. However, while Tsunoda has worked hard to manage his emotions, Hadjar is still learning to keep his reactions in place.

Red Bull Advisor Helmut Marko has already highlighted this as an area for improvement. Hadjar agrees, saying, “I know which team I’m in. I know they don’t like the radio button too much. I want to channel my emotions and focus on winning.”

At the same time, Hadjar has shown respect for Tsunoda and looks forward to learning from him. “Yuki has a lot of experience, and I’ve always admired him,” he said.

“We’ve both come through the Red Bull Junior Programme, and he’s someone I can learn a lot from in my first year.”