Damon Hill Warns Isack Hadjar He'll Be Red Bull's 'Whipping Boy'
Damon Hill says new Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar will be a 'whipping boy' to Max Verstappen and must accept a supporting role to succeed at the top team.
Isack Hadjar is set to step up to Red Bull Racing this season after a strong rookie campaign, but former F1 champion Damon Hill has issued a stark warning about his new role. Hill suggests the French driver will be a 'whipping boy' for the team, forced to play a supporting act to the undisputed #1, Max Verstappen. This dynamic presents a significant psychological challenge for a young driver aiming to prove his worth at the top of the sport.
Why it matters:
The second Red Bull seat has become a notoriously difficult environment, often seen as a career graveyard for talented drivers who cannot adapt to performing alongside Verstappen. Hadjar's ability to navigate this politically charged structure, learn without losing his competitive edge, and avoid the fate of predecessors like Yuki Tsunoda could determine his entire future in Formula 1. It highlights the immense challenge of being a teammate to a driver who operates as the undisputed focal point of the entire team's strategy and resources.
The details:
- The 'Whipping Boy' Label: On the Stay On Track podcast, 1996 champion Damon Hill was blunt about the 21-year-old's prospects: "He’s going to be the whipping boy for the team, isn't he? The best he can do is a pat on the head from Max."
- A One-Sided Dynamic: Hill emphasized that in that team, "Max rules and he's there as a supporting act." He questioned whether any true competitor could mentally accept that role, noting, "would Max do that? No."
- The Championship Question: Hill posed a critical dilemma for Hadjar's ambitions: "Are you world championship material if you can accept being number two?"
- The Delicate Balance: The challenge for Hadjar is to frame his time at Red Bull as a necessary learning opportunity to become a #1 driver in the future, all without "upsetting the apple cart" within the team's strict hierarchy.
What's next:
All eyes will be on Hadjar during the upcoming season to see how he handles the immense pressure of his new environment. His primary task will be to score solid points, aid in car development, and demonstrate a maturity beyond his years, all while knowing he is not the team's primary title contender. How he performs in this supporting role will be a key indicator of whether Red Bull made the right choice and if Hadjar has the mental fortitude required for a long-term career in F1.