Hadjar Shines in Red Bull-Ford Rally Raid Test Ahead of F1 2026 Debut

Red Bull's newly announced 2026 driver, Isack Hadjar, demonstrated his raw talent and adaptability by impressively tackling a Ford Raptor T1+ rally raid truck. In a promotional challenge for Red Bull Motorsports, the F1 rookie came within two seconds of a professional driver's benchmark time, despite having no prior off-road experience.

Why it matters:

This performance is a strong early indicator of Hadjar's potential as he prepares to step into the high-pressure environment of Red Bull Racing. His ability to quickly adapt to a completely new machine and extract competitive pace bodes well for his transition to F1, where he will partner four-time World Champion Max Verstappen. It builds confidence that Red Bull's driver promotion decision is well-founded.

The details:

• The Challenge: Hadjar was tasked with getting within 15 seconds of a lap time set by professional rally driver Mitch Guthrie Jr. on a 4km desert course.
• The Benchmark: Guthrie Jr., Ford's Dakar Rally driver, set a blistering pace of 3 minutes and 16 seconds.
• Rapid Adaptation: Despite a slide and crash on his second lap, Hadjar consistently improved, shaving off seconds with each attempt.
• Impressive Result: He completed the challenge on just his third lap and ultimately posted an official time of 3:18, a mere two seconds shy of the professional's time.

What's next:

The focus now shifts entirely to Formula 1, where Hadjar will get his first taste of the 2026 Red Bull car during the closed-doors test in Barcelona this January. This rally raid challenge serves as a high-profile confidence booster, showcasing the raw speed and composure he'll need to succeed on the F1 grid. All eyes will be on him to see if he can translate this promising adaptability into performance against the world's best.