Isack Hadjar vs Pierre Gasly | The F1 Formula | The F1 Formula
Head-to-head · current grid
Isack Hadjar vs Pierre Gasly
This comparison pits Pierre Gasly, an established F1 race winner, against Isack Hadjar, a promising Red Bull junior currently making his mark in Formula 2, highlighting their divergent career stages.
current grid
rb
alpine
Career scorecard
Source: Jolpica F1 API
Metric
Isack Hadjar
Pierre Gasly
World championships
0
0
Race wins
0
1
Podiums
1
5
Race starts
28
182
Career points
54
461
Seasons contested
2
10
First F1 season
2025
2017
This retrospective on Isack Hadjar and Pierre Gasly is a study in contrasting career trajectories: one a seasoned Formula 1 race winner who navigated the Red Bull system's highs and lows, the other a current Red Bull junior striving to emulate that F1 success, albeit with a different path.
Pierre Gasly's journey to Formula 1 was a methodical climb through the Red Bull junior ranks, culminating in a GP2 Series championship in 2016. His F1 debut came with Toro Rosso in late 2017, leading to a full-time seat in 2018 where he impressed enough to earn a promotion to the senior Red Bull Racing team for 2019. This proved to be a challenging period, resulting in a mid-season demotion back to Toro Rosso (later AlphaTauri). It was here that Gasly truly forged his reputation as a resilient and capable driver, culminating in a memorable victory at the 2020 Italian Grand Prix. His subsequent move to Alpine in 2023 marked a new chapter, seeking to establish himself as a consistent front-runner in a works team.
Isack Hadjar, on the other hand, is still very much in the ascent phase of his career. A member of the Red Bull Junior Team since 2022, Hadjar quickly made an impression in Formula 3, securing multiple podiums and a win in his rookie season, finishing fourth in the championship. His step up to Formula 2 in 2023 was met with mixed results, often showing flashes of brilliance but struggling for consistency. The 2024 F2 season has seen a more mature and composed Hadjar, securing his maiden F2 feature race win in Australia and consistently battling at the sharp end, positioning himself as a strong contender for future F1 opportunities.
How they overlapped
Crucially, Isack Hadjar and Pierre Gasly have never directly competed against each other in Formula 1. Gasly has been a fixture on the F1 grid since 2018, while Hadjar is currently navigating the final steps of the junior ladder. Their overlap exists purely within the Red Bull junior program, albeit at different times. Gasly's experiences, particularly his time at Red Bull Racing and subsequent success with AlphaTauri, serve as a template — both cautionary and inspirational — for young drivers like Hadjar aiming for the pinnacle of motorsport. Hadjar is currently under the same intense scrutiny and pressure that Gasly endured during his formative years within the Red Bull structure.
On track
Comparing their on-track attributes reveals some interesting parallels and distinctions. Gasly is known for his strong race craft, excellent tyre management, and an ability to extract performance from challenging machinery, as evidenced by his consistent points finishes and podiums with AlphaTauri. His 2020 Monza win was a masterclass in holding off faster cars. He is a driver who thrives on a car that gives him confidence, allowing him to push the limits.
Hadjar, in his junior career, has showcased raw speed and an aggressive overtaking style. When the car is beneath him, he can be devastatingly quick, often making bold moves that pay off. His early F3 career demonstrated a natural flair, though his F2 tenure has highlighted areas for development, particularly in consistency and managing race weekends when things don't go perfectly. Both drivers, however, possess a clear competitive fire and a desire to prove themselves, a common trait among Red Bull juniors. Hadjar's progression through F2 will be key to demonstrating the consistent race management and strategic thinking that Gasly has honed over years in F1.
Off track
Off track, both drivers have faced significant pressure within the Red Bull ecosystem. Gasly's demotion from Red Bull Racing in 2019 was a public and challenging moment, yet his response—rebuilding his confidence and delivering exceptional performances—is a testament to his mental fortitude. He matured significantly through this experience, emerging as a team leader at AlphaTauri. Hadjar is currently navigating the intense pressure of the F2 championship, knowing that strong results are essential for an F1 future. The Red Bull program is notoriously demanding, and both drivers have had to, or are currently having to, prove their worth under extreme scrutiny. This shared experience of the Red Bull crucible connects them, even across different eras. The path for drivers like Hadjar is often compared to those who came before him, like Gasly or even Carlos Sainz vs Isack Hadjar, who also navigated the Red Bull system before finding success elsewhere.
What history says
History, for Gasly, speaks of a driver who overcame adversity to achieve a Grand Prix victory and establish himself as a respected F1 competitor. It says he has the speed and resilience to perform at the highest level, even if his ultimate potential at a top team like Red Bull Racing wasn't fully realized. Gasly, now an established F1 driver with Alpine, operates in a different league, showcasing the consistent performance expected of a driver alongside talents like Carlos Sainz vs George Russell.
For Hadjar, history is still being written. His junior career suggests a talent with high potential, but the transition from F2 to F1 is a formidable leap. If Hadjar can continue to refine his race craft, improve consistency, and demonstrate the mental toughness required, he has the opportunity to carve out a successful F1 career, perhaps even mirroring Gasly's trajectory of proving himself outside the immediate glare of a top-tier Red Bull seat. The challenge for any F2 driver, much like Carlos Sainz vs Gabriel Bortoleto, is to stand out in a highly competitive field and secure one of the limited F1 berths.
