Isack Hadjar must take immediate action at Red Bull to prevent the gap to Max Verstappen increasing

Follow us on Google Discover

Despite showing signs of potentially ending the infamous second-seat curse at Red Bull, it’s clear that Isack Hadjar still isn’t at the level of Max Verstappen. To refrain from falling into a bigger deficit at the Austrian constructor, the Frenchman simply must take action.

Isack Hadjar has been rather impressive during the two race weekends that we have seen him at the wheel of a Red Bull F1 car, even if they were marred by various issues.

The Frenchman began the season by qualifying on the second row of the grid in Australia, where he acted as the Milton Keynes-based outfit’s lead driver following a crash from Max Verstappen in Q1.

Will Isack Hadjar be psychologically crushed by being Max Verstappen’s teammate this year?

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

An engine malfunction ended his race in Melbourne after just 10 laps, but Hadjar returned to action in Shanghai with just as much of a bit between his teeth to qualify just over a tenth behind his teammate’s effort that saw them start from the fifth row.

While he’s yet to take some bragging rights in the teammate battle, he can take a lot of confidence from being so close to the four-time world champion’s benchmarks, but he needs to keep the same grit and determination we see from him on track back to the factory with him.

• READ MORE: Max Verstappen’s Chinese Grand Prix horror show revealed Red Bull’s underlying downforce problem

Isack Hadjar can’t let Max Verstappen control the direction of Red Bull’s 2026 F1 car development

In a recent episode of De Telegraaf’s F1 podcast, former Minardi driver Christijan Albers highlighted the difficulties that Verstappen is currently facing at Red Bull after viewing some onboard footage of the Dutchman’s Chinese Grand Prix.

He told F1 journalist Erik van Haren, “It’s the early stages where he still needs to get to grips with the car, where they’re starting the development.

“I’ve had a look at the footage, and I don’t think it’s his kind of car. He says it goes in all directions.

“But if he can get through that development phase, and if it goes in the right direction for him in terms of his driving style, then I do think that gap will widen with Hadjar. But Hadjar is doing well.”

What do you expect from Isack Hadjar in the 2026 F1 season?

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

Now, the main reason why many thought that the 2026 F1 season would be the best time for Hadjar to move up to the frontrunning Red Bull team is because of the blank canvas that he would be starting on alongside Verstappen.

If Hadjar allowed the Dutchman to sway Red Bull’s minds in the R&D department, then he may very well find himself suffering from the same fate as his predecessors.

• READ MORE: Giedo van der Garde tells Max Verstappen ‘there’s a limit’ in his Isack Hadjar relationship

Isack Hadjar must assert his authority within the Red Bull garages

The issue of Verstappen’s driving style being reflected in Red Bull’s development efforts has plagued the Dutchman’s teammates for the best part of a decade now, with Yuki Tsunoda being the latest victim to fall off the grid as a result.

In fact, Red Bull admitted that they were favouring Verstappen over Tsunoda in the midst of the Japanese driver’s struggles last year.

While Hadjar has had an impressive start to his career as a Red Bull driver, he needs to ensure that he doesn’t fall into the same trap as those who came before him.