The 2025 Method 1 grid is lastly full.
This week noticed the ultimate two seats fall into place, first with the long-rumored information that Crimson Bull and Sergio Pérez had been parting methods after 4 seasons collectively. Then on Thursday Crimson Bull introduced that Liam Lawson was being promoted from a spot at Visa Money App Racing Bulls to drive alongside Max Verstappen subsequent yr, leaving one spot left on the grid, the seat subsequent to Yuki Tsunoda at VCARB.
Now, Tsunoda has a teammate.
VCARB introduced on Friday morning that 20-year-old Isack Hadjar has earned a promotion from the F2 ranks, to safe the ultimate seat on the grid for subsequent season.
“We’re excited to have Isack with us subsequent yr, bringing a brand new and recent dynamic to the crew alongside Yuki in 2025,” mentioned VCARB Crew Principal Laurent Mekies in an announcement. “His journey to Method One has been nothing wanting excellent, he has proven exceptional development, with a collection of spectacular leads to the junior single-seater ranks. He has the expertise and drive essential to compete on the highest degree, and we’ve each confidence that he’ll adapt shortly and make a major influence.
“I consider Isack and Yuki will make an awesome crew. Yuki brings invaluable expertise to the crew, he’s proven unimaginable resilience and maturity, which can be essential for the crew as we try to hit all our goals and aims in 2025.”
Hadjar simply accomplished an outstanding season within the F2 ranks the place he completed second within the Drivers’ Championship standings, simply 22.5 factors behind champion Gabriel Bortoleto. Hadjar gained 4 F2 Characteristic races this season and each he and Bortoleto — together with Paul Aron — entered the ultimate race weekend of the F2 schedule with an opportunity to win the title. Aron was eradicated from rivalry within the F2 Dash Race in Abu Dhabi, and when Hadjar stalled early within the F2 Characteristic Race, it opened the door for Bortoleto to safe the title together with his P2 end.
Now the 2 drivers will renew their budding rivalry on the F1 grid.
“I’m very excited to step into my new function at VCARB, that is enormous for myself, my household and all of the individuals who have believed in me from the start,” mentioned Hadjar. “The journey from karting by means of the ranks in single-seaters, to now being in Method One is the second I’ve been working in the direction of my complete life, it’s the dream. I really feel like I’m entering into a complete new universe, driving a a lot quicker automotive and racing with the most effective drivers on the planet. It’ll be an enormous studying curve, however I’m able to work arduous and do the most effective I can for the crew.
“I look ahead to working with and studying from Yuki, I’ve at all times regarded as much as him, he went by means of the Crimson Bull Junior Program, like myself, and we’ve shared an identical path to F1. He’s very skilled and can be good to study from.”
The transfer is a transparent sign in the direction of VCARB, Crimson Bull’s junior crew, sustaining its standing as a driver growth group for the senior crew. At first of the 2024 season, the crew had Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo as their two drivers, a pair of veterans on the grid hoping for a transfer to the senior crew.
Now with Hadjar within the fold, VCARB is returning to its roots.
“Firstly, we should congratulate Liam for his step as much as Oracle Crimson Bull Racing,” mentioned VCARB CEO Peter Bayer. “As a sister crew and as an incubator for Method One expertise, our strategic goal is to foster and nurture our drivers in preparation for this subsequent step.
“With this transfer and by bringing Isack into VCARB, it’s a testomony to our longstanding dedication to develop the most effective younger drivers in motorsport, in addition to proof of idea of the Crimson Bull Junior Program. Having a youthful driver helps our mission to talk to a youthful viewers, so we look ahead to bringing new and current followers on the journey with us.”
The 2025 F1 season begins with pre-season testing on the finish of February, earlier than the schedule begins with the Australian Grand Prix on March 18, 2025.
