Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar targets 2027 F1 title fight, vows to ‘crush them all’

SEPANG, Oct 2 — 21-year-old French driver Isack Hadjar is eager to "crush" the rest of the Formula 1 grid in the upcoming season, the young racer revealed at the Bahrain Grand Prix. Hadjar, who is Red Bull's team-mate to four-time world champion Max Verstappen, recently secured a contract extension with the team. Standing eighth in the standings with 86 points, Hadjar missed three races in August and September due to a broken wrist but returned for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and finished in third place.

Hadjar expressed satisfaction at his second podium finish, following his P3 at Monaco, which was later boosted by Pierre Gasly's demotion on appeal. The Racing Bulls driver acknowledged that while finishing sixth was still a significant achievement, his ultimate goal was to secure wins and compete head-to-head with top-tier drivers.

Hadjar confirmed that Red Bull is not in contention for this year's title but remains hopeful that the team will soon develop a car capable of challenging Mercedes' reigning champion, Kimi Antonelli.

Emulating the only French world champion in history, Alain Prost, Hadjar aims to win titles in both 2027 and 2028. He is optimistic about the future and looking forward to racing the Sepang circuit for the first time. The Paris-born driver emphasized that injuries are no longer a concern and is poised to tackle the Sepang Grand Prix with renewed vigor.