Red Bull family star Isack Hadjar has rejected a suggestion that Helmut Marko is "ferocious", insisting he has always believed in the Racing Bulls driver.
Hadjar has been one of the biggest surprises in Formula 1 this season, having excelled since crashing on the formation lap of the Australian Grand Prix.
It has led to increasing speculation that he is the favourite to partner Max Verstappen at Red Bull next year, where he would work even closer with the outfit's motorsport advisor, Marko.
However, an F1 promotion almost did not happen for the 20-year-old, following a disastrous maiden Formula 2 campaign in 2023.
Red Bull had six junior drivers on the F2 grid that year, with Hadjar having finished the season below them all. However, Marko believed in the youngster, and only retained him for 2024.
Marko's faith was immediately rewarded, as Hadjar secured the runner-up spot the following year, before receiving his F1 promotion. To Hadjar, Marko has been pivotal for his career.
When pointed out that Hadjar disagrees with claims that Marko is "ferocious", the French-Algerian said on the Beyond the Grid podcast: "The honest relationship [I have] with Helmut, he's the person that basically got me a seat in Formula 1, gave me a chance, a path, a trajectory, to F1 so I'm grateful for that.
"I remember my first F2 season was kind of a nightmare. And he kept believing, he offered me a second chance, and I took it, and I delivered."
In his shocking first F2 campaign, Hadjar finished the season 14th in the standings, leading to much frustration.
Despite his emotions, Marko opted against speaking to Hadjar much; instead, letting him embrace the anger.
"I didn't have much [contact with Marko], he was letting me going through it, which I think was good, adding extra stress on me, which I think was smart," explained Hadjar.
"We had six in the junior programme that year. I was last of all the six, and I was the only guy remaining for the upcoming season."
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