Red Bull have a rich history of promoting fine young talent from its pool of drivers to Formula 1 – but recently, things seemed to have stalled a little bit.
Liam Lawson has been sat waiting in the wings for a full-time opportunity since the end of his 2022 Formula 2 campaign.
He has been blocked by some higher up in the Red Bull stable that may have overstayed their welcome in the sport relative to their performance – Daniel Ricciardo and Sergio Perez.
Both have performed below the expected level for the past year and yet their seats appear to be safe for the time being.
Why Isack Hadjar deserves his Formula 1 shot with Red Bull
Elsewhere, one 22-year-old driver has been making a name for himself, having won four feature races in Formula 2 this season and earning himself a 36-point championship lead in the process.
After a slow start to life in the world’s top junior category of racing in 2023, Isack Hadjar has burst onto the scene this season.
READ MORE: Why Isack Hadjar’s engineer feels TV broadcasts have given Red Bull junior an ‘unfair image’
Campos Racing have themselves a real gem behind the wheel – he’s even carried them to top spot in the constructors’ standings level on points with Invicta Racing.
Josep María Martí – Hadjar’s Campos teammate has 127 points less than him, proving that despite his age, the French driver is able to carry the weight of expectation from a whole team on his shoulders.
While this is something which is bound to have impressed Red Bull, apparently it has not been enough for him to be thrusted into a Formula 1 seat for at least a year before the start of the new technical regulations in 2026.
Where does Hadjar go now?
A 2025 move would’ve made sense, handing Hadjar time to get used to the new machinery before things get serious again.
But for the time being, if his form continues, he will wind up winning the Formula 2 title and need to find another category to compete in for 2025.
Perhaps a test role with Red Bull would suit him, along with the promise of a drive in the future – but we’ve seen other Formula 2 champions and top talents disappear after not being handed the drives that their prowess deserves.
Presuming Sergio Perez fails to make it to next season, it’s between Daniel Ricciardo and Liam Lawson for a premiere seat with the senior Formula 1 team.
READ MORE: F2 title contender admits he’s making too many ‘jokes’ at serious moments
If Ricciardo wins that battle, the doors would be shut for Hadjar with Lawson moving to Visa Cash App RB – but if Lawson was to jump straight to Red Bull, leaving Ricciardo stranded, there could be hope for Hadjar.
Elsewhere, while there are few seats available left on the grid, it’s unlikely that Red Bull would allow one of their bright stars to join a rival team.
IndyCar could be an option with many seats up for grabs over there, but reigning Formula 2 champion Theo Pourchaire has failed to impress in North America.
It means that despite having the performances to warrant a Formula 1 promotion, Hadjar will likely find himself taking a backseat for 2025 with a view to obtaining a full-time drive in the future – yet another dent for a young star who has earned their shot.