Hadjar, though, is adamant that even the amount of knowledge Rosberg accrued up until that point was instrumental in the German becoming a world champion.
“That’s how he got to fight against Lewis,” he says of Rosberg’s 2016 title success against his then Mercedes team-mate – and Hadjar’s childhood hero – Lewis Hamilton. “It was definitely not with his talent.”
Racing Bulls’ press officer, who has been earwigging on our conversation in the team’s paddock home in Singapore, almost spits out his latte at this comment. Hadjar laughs. “I don’t mean [to be rude],” he adds. “It’s just, for me, it’s… Nico was not [as talented as Hamilton], and he knows it. He was not gifted like Lewis. But he fought with him very hard. Because up there [points to his head], he was making the most of his guys around and the car.
“I heard good stories about him. In GP2, he was impressive. He was doing the set-up. He’s a very smart guy. That is what I want to be able to do.”
Hadjar may be in a position to take on the best driver currently out there, in identical machinery, as soon as next season.
He has gone from being publicly consoled by Hamilton’s father Anthony in Melbourne after crashing out of what should have been his grand prix debut, to bagging his maiden podium in Zandvoort. It has been a brilliant rookie year and he is hotly tipped to take the second Red Bull seat alongside Verstappen in 2026.
