‘A massive opportunity’ – Perez and Albon offer Hadjar advice on second Red Bull seat

Former Red Bull drivers Sergio Perez and Alex Albon have given advice to Isack Hadjar as he prepares to step into the second Red Bull seat, encouraging him to make the most of the “massive opportunity”.

After impressing on his debut campaign with Racing Bulls, where he achieved a podium and frequently appeared in the top 10, the 21-year-old was offered a spot at the Milton Keynes-based squad, replacing the outgoing Yuki Tsunoda.

In addition to facing the usual challenge of going up against four-time champion Max Verstappen, Hadjar also joins the team at a time when the regulations are entering a brand new era.

That reset in the rules is something that Perez and Albon – who both spent time as Verstappen's team mate at Red Bull – agree the young Frenchman can capitalise on.

Speaking at pre-season testing in Bahrain, the Cadillac driver said: “I think he's ready to come into Red Bull with such a change in the regulations. I think Isack is a very talented driver, he's shown that, and I'm sure as long as he stays cool throughout the year, he will have a very successful career in Formula 1.

“Being team mates with Max at Red Bull, it's a great team, so I think it's a great place for him to be in at this point of his career. I think it's a massive opportunity.”

Perez spent four years with the team and had a best finish of second place in the championship in 2023, but his 2024 season was marred by a lack of victories and underperformance that culminated in the termination of his contract.

Albon’s experience, on the other hand, was more similar to Tsunoda’s as he was demoted to the reserve driver role for 2021 after less than two seasons at Red Bull, during which he achieved his maiden podium but struggled to consistently match Verstappen’s performances.

Now a leading figure at Williams, where he has played a crucial role in helping them progress through the midfield, Albon highlighted how Hadjar will cope with the steep learning curve that comes with moving teams.

He said: “I think Isack is a quick driver and I think actually a lot of this regulation change will be good, it's a fresh start for everyone.

“Based on what I've seen so far, he seems to be quite comfortable with the car. I think it's a lot of learning to do, not just in terms of having a quick team mate, but the car itself, so I think he's gonna do okay.”