Isack Hadjar believes that Red Bull Racing has evolved throughout the 2026 Formula 1 season, but considers that there is still a lack of performance to face Mercedes and Ferrari on equal terms. The Frenchman asked the team to continue working to reduce this gap in the second half of the championship.
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Before the August break, Hadjar ended a streak of seven consecutive races in the points zone and highlighted that the recent growth of the team is a positive sign. Still, he made it clear that the goal is above the current results and that the car needs to advance further to fight for even better positions.
In statements to the press during the Hungarian GP weekend, the driver said he was satisfied with how he has been extracting performance from the RB22, despite recognizing the equipment’s limitations: “It’s good. It’s a car I can drive well. It’s not the easiest to drive, but it’s consistent. I’ve been able to get the most out of it in the last races, so I’m definitely satisfied,” he said.
Hadjar’s best result of the season was fourth place at the Monaco GP. The Frenchman could have achieved a podium if the review related to Pierre Gasly’s time penalty had not occurred. The situation, however, remains open, with pending appeals, including one filed by Red Bull itself.
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The team started the year fighting for positions close to Haas and Alpine, but managed to reduce almost a second of the gap to the leaders throughout the season. With this, it returned to fighting for podiums alongside Mercedes, Ferrari, and McLaren.
Even with this evolution, Hadjar believes there is still important work ahead for the rest of the championship.
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