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Who Is Isack Hadjar? The Young F1 Star Making History

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Farah Ben Gamra | Last updated Sep 2, 2025 10:30 AM ET

Isack Hadjar has always looked like a driver with a bright future ahead. Born in Paris in 2004 to an Algerian family, he started karting at seven and never really stopped climbing.

By the time he got to Formula 2 in 2024 his talent was obvious. A second place in the championship secured his seat with Racing Bulls for the F1 2025 season, and gave the sport something it had never seen before.

Making History

Hadjar’s debut is a special rookie story. When he lined up on the grid in Melbourne he became the first Arab driver in Formula 1 history. For him that’s a big deal. “I feel I am representing two countries… I am the first Arab driver on the planet to make it to Formula One,” he said earlier this year.

It’s a role he has taken on and the impact is already visible. Fans across the Arab world see him as proof that the top of the sport isn’t out of reach.

His style has also turned heads. Calm, precise and intelligent, it’s no wonder they call him “Petit Prost”, meaning "Little Prost", referring to F1 Legend and 4-time World Championship winner Alain Prost.

Even Red Bull’s Helmut Marko who has seen countless prospects come and go called him the “surprise of the season”. With a quantum physicist for a father, Yassine Hadjar, Isack has a reminder of his roots on his helmet: mathematical equations painted on the design.

Dutch GP Breakthrough

The real breakthrough came at the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix. Starting from fourth on the grid he kept his head in the chaos and brought his Racing Bull home in third. It was a drive full of maturity and he was both the first Arab driver and the youngest Frenchman to stand on an F1 podium.

The 20-year-old driver had also just delivered on a big promise. Before the season started in F1's traditional predictions game, he had said he would score a podium. By Zandvoort he had done just that.

How it started How it's going#F1 #DutchGP pic.twitter.com/BGZSC2top2
— Formula 1 (@F1) August 31, 2025

For Racing Bulls it was a big points haul in the Constructors’ championship and a confirmation that Hadjar is here to stay.

The talk of a Red Bull promotion should only get louder but for now he’s proving himself, step by step, and showing the world he’s only just getting started.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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