Isack Hadjar highlights 'annoying' aspect of being Red Bull team-mate to Max Verstappen

Isack Hadjar believes himself to be "very lucky" that at the age of just 21 he will get to see first-hand what he has described as "the highest level in the world" in being team-mate to Max Verstappen.

Following what was a stellar rookie season with Racing Bulls last year, Hadjar was handed a promotion to Red Bull for this season, in which he will partner four-time F1 champion Verstappen as the replacement for the dropped Yuki Tsunoda.

Speaking in a select media interview at the end of last season, which included RacingNews365, and just days after his promotion had been confirmed, it was clear Hadjar was still in a relative state of shock and coming to terms with the move.

"It's hard to realise," he said, in assessing what it meant to him to be a Red Bull driver at such a young age. "It's not just Red Bull, it's just being a team-mate with Max.

"I'm so grateful because I'm just 21 and I get to see what the highest level in the world is like at such a young age. So I'm very lucky."

There is one aspect of the Red Bull role that Hadjar is not looking forward to this year, and that is the increased media attention.

The French-Algerian driver never looked comfortable at any stage when chatting with the media whilst with Racing Bulls, with the spotlight now about to become far harsher.

As to whether he will feel comfortable with that, he replied: "It's just annoying, if anything."

As to whether there was anything he could do to mitigate that discomfort, a typically dry Hadjar jokingly responded: "I have a plan to disappear. Wear a mask. I don't know."

Hadjar set for 'perfect' promotion

Hadjar conceded that he will miss the 'fun' environment at Racing Bulls, believing it will be "a lot more serious" with Red Bull.

"VCARB is a family team," he said. "But at the same time, I'm not here to have a laugh.

"I have friends to have fun with when I go home, and when I'm on track, I'm here to work. So I don't mind it."

The 21-year-old, though, was grateful for the year he spent with Racing Bulls, with whom he scored points in 10 races, including a high of third in the Dutch Grand Prix.

"I couldn't have wished for a better team to start my F1 career with," he said.

"They're used to developing kids, basically. I owe it to Pierre [Gasly], with whom I spent most of the winter with, and I had my head like this [flopping it to one side] before going to Bahrain, but that's where the job was done.

"That's also why I got used to it very quickly. I adapted to it very quickly.

"And as a driver, off track, I've made huge steps."

As to whether he felt himself ready for Red Bull, he was unequivocal. "Of course," he said. "Actually, I couldn't be more ready for this. It's perfect."