In a stunning twist at the FIA prize-giving gala, Isack Hadjar, the highly-touted new talent for Red Bull, found himself overshadowed as Rafael Camara was crowned the Rookie of the Year for 2025. This shocking decision comes on the heels of Hadjar’s impressive performance in the Formula 2 championship, where he finished as a close runner-up to Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto in 2024. Despite this setback, Hadjar’s debut season with the Racing Bulls in F1 2025 was nothing short of remarkable, highlighting the fierce competition for recognition in the motorsport world.
The French-Algerian driver made headlines by securing his first podium finish with a commendable third place at the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort. Over the course of the season, Hadjar contributed significantly to his team, accumulating 51 of Racing Bulls’ total 92 points, a performance that ultimately helped the squad edge out Aston Martin for sixth place in the constructors’ championship. Red Bull’s announcement that Hadjar would step up to join Max Verstappen as his teammate for the upcoming season added further excitement to his already promising career.
However, the accolades were not meant for Hadjar this time around. The prestigious Rookie of the Year award went to Camara, a rising star from Brazil who took the Formula 3 title in his debut season. Camara’s success story is compelling; he clinched four victories to secure the championship, marking a meteoric rise just a year after winning the Formula Regional European Championship with Prema. His victory at the awards ceremony adds another layer to the fierce rivalry among young drivers as they vie for their place in Formula 1.
It’s worth noting that Oscar Piastri remains the last F1 debutant to have received the FIA’s Rookie of the Year accolade, achieving this honor in 2023 after an outstanding title-winning season in F2 back in 2021. As the motorsport community reflects on this year’s outcomes, the competition intensifies. With Hadjar now poised to replace Yuki Tsunoda, who has been relegated to a test-and-reserve role for 2026, the stage is set for an electrifying season ahead.
As the dust settles from the gala in Uzbekistan, the motorsport world is left buzzing. Will Hadjar’s burgeoning career and determination to prove his worth lead him to future glory? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: the rivalry among these young drivers is far from over, and the stakes have never been higher.
