F1 NEWS : ‘Handcuff him’: Proof F1 is BROKEN… read more

Red Bull’s Ruthless Strategy Faces Scrutiny Amid Isack Hadjar Debate and Verstappen Exit Rumors

 

The Red Bull Racing team has long been known for its no-nonsense, results-driven approach, but recent developments suggest that their ruthless strategy may be starting to backfire. The team’s aggressive handling of drivers, especially those selected to partner with Max Verstappen, is coming under intense criticism — and their current junior driver, Isack Hadjar, may be the next in line to face the firing squad.

Driving Next to Verstappen: A Career-Killing Move?

In Formula 1, sharing a garage with Max Verstappen is becoming a double-edged sword. While it offers an unparalleled learning opportunity alongside one of the sport’s modern legends, it also carries with it an unbearable pressure that has broken even experienced racers.

Red Bull’s driver dynamic is no longer just tough — it’s being called toxic. Time and again, promising drivers have been elevated to the senior team, only to find themselves unable to meet the sky-high expectations set by Verstappen’s consistently blistering performances. Rather than building their confidence, the system appears to be chewing them up and spitting them out.

Hadjar’s Meteoric Rise Met With Pleas for Caution

Enter 20-year-old French-Moroccan driver Isack Hadjar, currently competing with Red Bull’s junior team, Racing Bulls. His debut season in Formula 1 has been more than impressive. After a tough start — most notably his emotional debut at the Australian Grand Prix where he was forced to retire early — Hadjar has bounced back with maturity and skill, managing to score points in more than half of his races so far. A standout moment came in Monaco, where he drove brilliantly to finish sixth, earning admiration from the paddock and pundits alike.

Even Dr. Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s often-cruel talent evaluator, had some praise for Hadjar. This is the same Marko who had previously mocked Hadjar’s tears in Australia, calling them “embarrassing.” The sudden shift in tone suggests the youngster has done more than enough to earn serious consideration for a spot at the senior team. But not everyone agrees this is a good idea.

In a rare moment of internal dissent, Peter Bayer, the CEO of Racing Bulls, openly pleaded with Red Bull’s top brass not to rush Hadjar’s promotion. In comments made to Swiss-German outlet Blick, Bayer said, “For heaven’s sake, don’t take this talent away from us too soon. He should get to know the whole business by the end of 2026. Until then, we’ll just have to handcuff him!”

This public statement not only highlights how highly Hadjar is valued within his current team but also reveals just how much anxiety surrounds the prospect of him being fed into Red Bull’s meat grinder too early.

Rosberg’s Dire Warning

Former F1 World Champion Nico Rosberg didn’t mince words when asked for his thoughts on Hadjar’s potential move. Speaking during coverage of the Spanish Grand Prix, Rosberg said if he were Hadjar, he would “decline as hard as you possibly can” if Red Bull offered him a promotion.

“He’s doing such a great job there with the [Racing Bulls], he’s in a great position,” Rosberg said. “Just flat out say: ‘No way.’ You need to do that. Decline.”

Rosberg’s warning wasn’t just dramatic flair — it reflects a deeper concern many in the F1 community now share about Red Bull’s leadership style and their tendency to prematurely elevate drivers before they are truly ready.

A Trail of Broken Careers

The recent handling of Liam Lawson is another example that fuels the narrative. After being hyped up as the next big thing and receiving a well-promoted Red Bull rollout, Lawson was dropped after just two races in 2024. His times fell short of Verstappen’s — a common theme in Red Bull’s second-seat saga — but he wasn’t given time or space to adjust or develop.

Meanwhile, Yuki Tsunoda, another product of Red Bull’s development system and heavily backed by Honda, has underperformed this season. In seven races, he has managed just seven points, frequently getting eliminated in Q1 and making crucial errors on race day. His struggles highlight the gap between expectations and reality when it comes to drivers placed next to Verstappen.

Even Sergio “Checo” Perez, an experienced and widely respected veteran, wasn’t immune. Despite finishing second in the 2023 Drivers’ Championship — an achievement that would be celebrated at most teams — Perez was relentlessly criticized for not matching Verstappen’s otherworldly pace. He played a crucial role in securing Red Bull’s Constructors’ title, particularly with his defensive drive against Charles Leclerc in key races. And yet, despite his contributions, Perez found himself ousted for the 2024 season, a casualty of the team’s impatient culture.

Verstappen Exit Rumors Stir the Pot

As if the internal turmoil wasn’t enough, Red Bull is now facing rumors of a potential bombshell exit by Max Verstappen himself. Former Red Bull mechanic Calum Nicholas recently suggested that Verstappen might walk away from Formula 1 altogether at the end of the 2025 season — especially if he secures his fifth consecutive World Championship.

“I think Max is going to win the Drivers’ this year, and then I think he’s going to call it a day,” Nicholas said. Though he emphasized he had no insider information, his comments echo a growing speculation around the paddock.

Verstappen, known for his fierce independence and dislike for unnecessary drama, has been linked to potential moves to teams like Mercedes or Aston Martin. However, Nicholas believes the Dutchman might skip the team-switch drama entirely and instead leave the sport at the pinnacle of his powers.

“Not backing Max is lunacy,” Nicholas added. “He does everything well now. Not just in terms of raw talent, but his all-round approach — strategy, race management, leadership — he’s become the complete driver.”

What Now for Red Bull?

The cracks in Red Bull’s high-pressure system are growing harder to ignore. Their one-size-fits-all approach to talent management — revolving almost entirely around Verstappen — has created a culture where even excellence isn’t enough unless it matches the Dutchman’s near-perfection. Promising drivers have been promoted too fast, expected to deliver too much, and cut too quickly when they inevitably fall short.

If Verstappen does step away from the sport in the near future, Red Bull may find itself with no one ready or willing to fill the void — a result of its own short-sighted handling of young talent.

For now, the best move Red Bull could make might be the one they rarely do: exercise patience. Let Hadjar grow. Let him build confidence and experience. Because if they rush him, history suggests we’ll be reading another sad story about another Red Bull prospect who flew too close to the sun.

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