Hadjar identifies 'so obvious' path to Red Bull seat

Isack Hadjar insists it is "clear and obvious" what a Racing Bull driver must do to secure the coveted Red Bull seat alongside Max Verstappen.

The Frenchman is two races into his F1 career, but with former team-mate Yuki Tsunoda now elevated to the Milton Keynes squad at the expense of Liam Lawson, who has been demoted.

It has resulted in Red Bull's unusual driver pool approach being front and centre in the run-up to the third weekend of the year in Japan.

After enduring a heartbreaking debut in Australia in crashing out on the formation lap, Hadjar found form in China and heads into the Japanese Grand Prix as a net winner from the turmoil surrounding him.

Tsunoda is in the final year of his contract with Red Bull and Lawson must rebuild his confidence and again prove himself.

If either leaves the team at the end of the campaign, Hadjar is positioned to retain his seat, despite the looming talent of F2's Arvid Lindblad knocking on the door behind him, not to mention the uncertainty engulfing Verstappen's Red Bull future.

And, even if the four-time F1 drivers' champion stays, depending on how the cards fall, the 20-year-old could well find himself alongside the Dutchman this time next year.

"I mean, in the Red Bull family, it's all about performance, the guy who's performing at the moment has the higher chance to get the Red Bull seat next to Max," he explained to media including RacingNews365.

"I think it's so clear and so obvious. And then once you don't perform anymore or [are] struggling, then it becomes more difficult."

Although the driver line-up change was sudden, Hadjar does not envisage any problems working alongside Lawson.

"I think we're gonna work just fine together," he said. "I just focus on what I'm doing, and I don't need anyone special alongside [me] to push myself to drive as fast as I can - and I know Liam is great to work with, so all good."

Hadjar: 'Weird for everyone except for the drivers'

The abrupt nature of the switch caused many to suggest there would be tensions between Red Bull's four full-time F1 drivers, something not helped by a joint show run for the quartet in Tokyo ahead of the round at Suzuka.

When posing for a photo at the event, Hadjar instinctively stood close to Tsunoda, before being directed towards Lawson on his other side.

When asked whether it was strange for them to carry out those duties so soon after the swap, the Racing Bulls driver dismissed any suggestion of weirdness between them.

"No, it's maybe weird for everyone except for the drivers, because we know what going on and how hard this sport is," Hadjar said. "So between us, there's no awkward situations at all."

Nonetheless, he did conceded to having mixed feelings about Tsunoda departing for Red Bull, even if he wants to see the Japanese driver succeed where his new team-mate failed.

"A bit sad he left," Hadjar stated. "But yeah, it's definitely gonna be a challenge [for Tsunoda].

"I know he's been ready and waiting for it. And I think it's really cool as well that he gets the call for his home race. So yeah, I wish him the best."