Felipe Massa believes Isack Hadjar has moved up to Red Bull in the "right year", given the comprehensive F1 regulations reset and the subsequent brand new cars for the 2026 season.
The 11-time grand prix winner was quick to praise the Frenchman, highlighting how impressive his debut campaign was with Racing Bulls.
Hadjar's performances across the year left little doubt that he would be promoted to the seat alongside Max Verstappen.
However, Massa, who raced in F1 from 2002 to 2017, feels it is a "good opportunity" for the 21-year-old to take the step, given the RB22 is effectively a clean sheet of paper.
Speaking to paddock_rmc on Instagram, the Brazilian said of Hadjar: "I think he impressed everyone [with] what he did last year.
"He had a fantastic year, learning and showing a very good performance in many races."
Despite the size of the task facing the one-time podium finisher, Massa has backed him to put his learning into action in order to reach his potential at Red Bull.
"Today, he has an amazing opportunity, going to the most important team — Red Bull — definitely has big pressure. You know, having Max next to him," the former Sauber, Ferrari and Williams driver said.
"But I think he needs to put in his mind the learning progress and the development progress, to be at the level that he can be one day."
Given the chassis and power unit changes, and Laurent Mekies now being at the helm — as opposed to Christian Horner — Massa pondered whether Red Bull will manage to overcome the issues that have plagued its second seat since Daniel Ricciardo left at the end of 2018.
"And I think maybe he moved to Red Bull in the right year, because now all the rules are different; everything is different, so the way you need to drive the car is different," he added.
"So maybe it won't be the same Red Bull that they've had in the last few years, when the team-mate couldn't drive the car like Max.
"So I think maybe now is a good opportunity for Hadjar to have a car that is not so complicated, like they had in the last few years."
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