Isack Hadjar, the latest Red Bull junior to graduate to F1 with Racing Bulls team in 2025, has been the subject of criticism for his fiery temperament on team radio, and his emotional outbursts over the radio have drawn comparisons to future teammate Yuki Tsunoda and even warnings from Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko.
The French-Albanian driver has sat down with the French News outlet L’Équipe ahead of his debut and was probed about his radio temperament. Hadjar, however, remains unfazed by the criticism.
“Yes, getting too angry on the radio. People see it as a flaw, but for me, it’s not a big deal. I’m aware of it, and I know why I do it. But I understand. We’ll tone it down this year, that’s all. I’ll yell to myself in the car, and no one will hear it.”
The 20-year-old has been under the spotlight for his heated exchanges during his time in F2. A particularly notable moment came during the Monaco Feature Race, where Hadjar saw a potential victory slip away due to a late virtual safety car. Frustration boiled over as he snapped at his engineer:
“Don’t talk to me. I don’t want to talk. It’s a joke.”
When his engineer attempted to calm him down, Hadjar retorted, “No man! You can’t say that! I’m P2. Can you believe what just happened? It’s a joke. Man, come on.”
Helmut Marko warns Isack Hadjar to channel his emotions properly in F1 with Racing Bulls in 2025
This pattern of radio outbursts drew increasing attention as the season progressed, with some comparing him to Tsunoda, whose own fiery radio messages had previously drawn criticism from Helmut Marko, and the Red Bull advisor has made it clear that Isack Hadjar must rein in his emotions if he wants to make a lasting impact in F1.
“Isack is fast but he has to keep his emotions under control and has to focus. One example, when in Monte Carlo, there was a Safety Car and he was all of a sudden in front of him. He was moaning and complaining. ‘Why?’ and so on,” Marko said at the Inside F1 Podcast.
“Instead, the guy had cold tyres. He should have driven to attack him instead of being all over the place on the radio.”
Despite the criticism, Hadjar remains focused on his future, understanding that development is crucial before making the leap to Red Bull’s senior team. When asked whether he sees himself as Max Verstappen’s teammate in the future, he said:
“When I have the level for it, of course. But definitely not before that.”
While Hadjar acknowledges the need to adjust his approach, he is far from letting the noise affect him. He has no timeline for a move to Red Bull, prioritizing growth over an immediate promotion.
“Absolutely not. That’s the point. Once I’m ready, I want to join Red Bull—but not before. This year, I’m here to learn.”
With five rookies on the grid in 2025, Hadjar isn’t the only fresh face looking to prove himself. Racing alongside Tsunoda, his challenge will be to show he belongs while demonstrating the maturity Marko and others demand.
