Racing Bulls Formula One driver Isack Hadjar has been tipped for a potential promotion to Red Bull Racing in the future, but former F1 champion Nico Rosberg has asked the rookie driver not to accept the “risky” opportunity at any cost.
Hadjar races for Red Bull’s junior F1 team at present, and he could be next in line after Yuki Tsunoda to race alongside Max Verstappen. Tsunoda’s current contract expires at the end of 2025, and there isn’t a strong chance of his contract extension happening any time soon, especially given his current struggles in adapting to the RB21 F1 car.
Rosberg has used the same point to warn Hadjar, since most of Verstappen’s teammates have struggled to match his performance. Sergio Perez faced considerable difficulties during the 2024 season with a car that was affected by balance problems, and the increasing gap to the Dutchman made matters worse for him.
Related: Red Bull F1 Won’t Wait for Season End for Potential Hadjar Promotion Decision
Liam Lawson, who replaced Perez at the beginning of the current season, was demoted back to Racing Bulls after just two Grands Prix due to performance concerns. Tsunoda took over his seat alongside the four-time world champion, but he continues to face problems in a car that is reportedly designed around Verstappen’s driving style.
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Considering the long list of driver names who faced problems at Red Bull, Rosberg put himself in Hadjar’s shoes and revealed what he would say if he were the 20-year-old driver. He told Sky Sports F1, as quoted by Planet F1:
“I would say, ‘No, I’m not doing it, no way, try and force me.”
When Rosberg was asked by co-presenter Natalie Pinkham if his mind would change if it was his only shot at getting into Red Bull, the former Mercedes driver said:
“‘I don’t care. No, I’m not doing it. What are you gonna force me there? Like you’re gonna drag me there? No, I’m not going really’.”
Rosberg then went on to highlight how risky a potential promotion could be for Hadjar. He added:
“Do you know how risky that is? You know how many careers almost got destroyed there in the list? You know how long the list is?
“And you know Yuki’s situation now, his career is not looking too great right now.
“At Racing Bulls he was fine, he was doing well, everything was okay.”
Guest pundit Jamie Chadwick highlighted that maybe Hadjar might not have an option to refuse a promotion. She said:
“I don’t think he can say no, that’s the problem.
“I would want to say no if I was him. The car just won the race here [Monza] in Max’s hands. But I would want to say no, because I know I’m developing at a really good rate.
“He’s also not been to a lot of the tracks that he’s going up to. He’s not been to the likes of Las Vegas, Singapore, there’s a few tracks he wouldn’t have done before, so you can still learn in the Racing Bulls. That’s what I would say.
“But equally, I don’t think he can say no. His boss telling him, ‘No, you’re in’, and he’s got to do it.”
