Hadjar sets sights on 2027 title fight after impressive first season at Red Bull

[p]The Frenchman has enjoyed a solid first season with Red Bull, where he is the teammate of four-time world champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/verstappen-max/UV3mgeXB/"]Max Verstappen[/a], and was rewarded for his efforts with a contract extension last week.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hadjar-isack/8SAk38Ui/"]Hadjar[/a] is eighth in the standings on 86 points after missing three Grands Prix in August and September with a broken wrist.[/p][p]He returned for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix last weekend and finished third.[/p][p][b]"I'd been chasing that podium for a while," [/b]Hadjar said on Thursday of his second top-three finish - following his P3 at Monaco, which came about a couple of months after the fact when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gasly-pierre/nqYFMBBf/"]Pierre Gasly[/a] was demoted from the podium on appeal.[/p][p][b]"I wanted to earn it on my own merits, and it feels good,"[/b] he added.[/p][p][b]"Does it give me more confidence? I don't know, because the hardest part is always following it up. Finishing sixth is cool, but that's not what I want."[/b][/p][embed guid="0fbcc0ce-7b97-4f1a-9c0c-223f00a011d0" url="https://x.com/F1/status/2103828576277553280?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]The former Racing Bulls driver said last weekend's GP showed he and Verstappen "work well" together, even if they both want to win races.[/p][p][b]"I just want to fight for wins, to go head-to-head with the guys - the big names,"[/b] Hadjar said.[/p][p]Hadjar admitted that "this year, we're not in the running for a title", but said he was hopeful Red Bull would soon be able to produce a car that would allow him and Verstappen to challenge Mercedes's championship leader [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/antonelli-andrea-kimi/ptGu0mT1/"]Kimi Antonelli[/a].[/p][p]Hadjar said he wants to emulate France's only previous world champion Alain Prost, who won four titles between 1985 and 1993.[/p][p][b]"Next year, we won't have a car that will dominate the championship. But we want a car that will fight for the title," [/b]he said.[/p][p][b]"The Mercedes cars will step it up another notch this weekend and will still be the benchmark to beat next year.[/b][/p][p][b]"We're on the same level as the big teams, McLaren and Ferrari. But we have to keep pushing. The goal is 2027 - and we're accelerating toward it."[/b][/p][embed guid="c55b8314-f3ef-4f5c-938f-2f75307527a3" url="https://x.com/redbullracing/status/2104179747941142959?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]The Paris-born driver said he is "optimistic" and "can't wait" for the future.[/p][p][b]"I want to finish the season telling myself that in 2027, we're going to crush them all! And 2028 will be even better," [/b]he said.[/p][p]In the meantime, he is enjoying getting back to racing after his injury and is looking forward to taking on the Sepang circuit for the first time this weekend.[/p][p]"I can't wait to get out there and explore the track. I've known it (from TV, video games, and the simulator) since I was a little kid, but I've never actually driven on it in real life," Hadjar said.[/p][p][b]"As for the wrist pain, that's no longer an issue. In Baku, there were a lot of questions to consider, but I managed to get through it, and I have no doubts about this weekend."[/b][/p]