Red Bull ‘next-in-line’ update as Verstappen team-mate decision looms

Christian Horner has said "depending on movements" F2 championship protagonist Isack Hadjar will "get an opportunity" in F1.

The 19-year-old is a member of the Red Bull junior programme and deputised for Max Verstappen in FP1 at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Already reserve driver for the team, the Frenchman is expected to be called upon for an RB race seat if Red Bull does sideline Sergio Perez over the winter.

In that eventuality, Liam Lawson - or potentially Yuki Tsunoda - is set to inherit the seat alongside the Milton Keynes squad's four-time F1 drivers' champion, opening the door for Hadjar in the process.

The Campos driver tripped over himself in an F2 press conference in Qatar, appearing to suggest his immediate future had been finalised but not confirmed publicly.

He managed to stop short of accidentally announcing what those plans might be, but the inference was that it would be a full-time seat in F1.

In his latest free practice opportunity at the Yas Marina Circuit, Hadjar at times sounded exasperated over team radio en route to finishing P15.

"It was very important not to put a mark on the [Max Verstappen's] car. He did a good job. He gave some reasonable feedback in that in that session," remarked to Sky Sports F1 after the second practice hour before providing some context to Hadjar's radio etiquette.

"That's his character. I think he's quite an emotive communicator," he added.

"He's one of the junior programmes [one of its drivers], so depending on movements, he would be next in line to get an opportunity."

F2 title showdown

Dovetailing his time in the RB20 with his usual F2 responsibilities, Hadjar is just half-a-point behind the championship leader, Stake-bound Gabriel Bortoleto.

Having qualified fourth for Sunday's feature race, he will line up directly behind the Brazilian in what will be a winner-takes-all showdown between the two.

"He's fighting for the Formula 2 championship this weekend," highlighted Horner.

"There's half a point between him and [Gabriel] Bortoleto, who's going to Sauber [next season], so it's a big weekend for him."