Red Bull announced this morning that Liam Lawson will join Max Verstappen in Formula 1 for the 2025 season. This leaves a vacancy in the VCARB – or Racing Bulls – team for the upcoming campaign.
Isack Hadjar is widely considered the leading candidate for the post. The 20-year-old French driver completed his second season in Formula 2 this year, finishing second behind rookie Gabriel Bortoleto, who will make his F1 debut in 2025 with Kick Sauber.
Affiliated with Red Bull for several years, Hadjar has already participated in tests and four free practice sessions since 2023, representing both Red Bull and the team now known as VCARB/Racing Bulls.
However, Hadjar is not the only contender. Ayumu Iwasa, also a member of the Red Bull Junior Team, finished his two seasons in F2 in the top five. With little else to learn in the category, he returned to Japan this year to compete in Super Formula, where he is expected to race again in 2025.
Iwasa also participated in a practice session this year for VCARB. The only potential downside is its association with Honda, which will partner with Aston Martin from 2026, while Red Bull and its secondary team are aligned with Ford.
Furthermore, Franco Colapinto had been rumored as a candidate for the job following his strong performances this year with Williams. It has strong support from Argentine sponsors. However, Red Bull consultant Helmut Marko clarified earlier this month that Colapinto is not among the main options.
