Max Verstappen’s manager has just told Isack Hadjar exactly what’s expected of him in 2026

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Red Bull Racing nearly helped Max Verstappen complete one of the greatest comebacks in Formula 1 history at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Max Verstappen did exactly what he needed to do, winning his eighth Grand Prix of 2025 from pole position.

However, a double McLaren podium was enough for Lando Norris to become world champion, defeating the Red Bull driver by just two points.

After Verstappen and Oscar Piastri drove off into the distance after Norris’ first pit stop, all eyes were on Yuki Tsunoda.

It was up to the Japanese driver on his final race for Red Bull to replicate Sergio Perez’s defence of Lewis Hamilton back in 2021 to try and earn his teammate a fifth straight title.

All Tsunoda could do was upset McLaren, as his defence of Norris lasted a single lap and earned him a five-second penalty.

Isack Hadjar will replace Tsunoda for the 2026 season at Red Bull, and he faces a completely new challenge alongside Verstappen than what he’s dealt with at Racing Bulls.

Raymond Vermeulen, Verstappen’s manager, has now told Hadjar what role he needs to play alongside the Dutchman next year after Tsunoda’s difficult campaign.

READ MORE: Red Bull driver Max Verstappen’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend

Max Verstappen’s manager tells Red Bull they need more than one car ahead of Isack Hadjar’s promotion

Vermeulen spoke to Dutch outlet De Telegraaf after the final race of 2025. He said: “Today you saw again that we [Red Bull] have to make do with one car, against two McLarens.

“And that the other teams are finding it extremely difficult to catch up.

“After the race in Zandvoort, the gap to first place was 104 points.

“I think we can be proud of how we turned it around and came back into a fight that wasn’t really there.

“Of course, we were helped a little by McLaren at times, but Max himself had an incredible and consistent year.”

READ MORE: Who is Racing Bulls 2025 F1 driver Isack Hadjar? Everything you need to know

Isack Hadjar admits his final race with Racing Bulls was ‘very tough’ in Abu Dhabi

Hadjar knew he needed a positive result at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to maintain his position in the top 10 of the drivers’ championship.

However, Fernando Alonso’s brilliant sixth-place finish and Nico Hulkenberg’s squeezing into ninth meant that the French rookie had to settle for P12 in the standings.

Speaking in his official post-race media session, Hadjar said: “It was a very tough Sunday.

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“We haven’t had enough pace the whole weekend to fight for our usual positions, and yesterday it was a surprise for me to put the car in P9.

“We started in the points, but we knew it would have been difficult for us to maintain that place.

“Looking at the positives and reflecting on my first F1 season, it’s been a great journey, and I’m proud of everyone within VCARB for everything we achieved together. It’s not the final race we wanted, but getting P6 in the Constructors’ Championship was our target and a great reward for all of us.”

Hadjar has been told he’s done something that won’t be tolerated at Red Bull alongside Max Verstappen next season.

He will have to learn quickly what is expected of him at Red Bull, but Vermeulen seems to think that Verstappen needs a more competitive teammate after Tsunoda and Liam Lawson struggled this year.