Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing driver, believes the team has a good race car, but that one-lap pace could be a challenge for the 2026 Formula 1 season. The French-Algerian, who will make his debut for Red Bull Racing at the Australian GP this coming weekend, stated that while the car is promising, performance in qualifying sessions might not be as prominent as expected.
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“I think in terms of one-lap pace, we are not that special. That could be a bit tricky,” said Hadjar, in a press conference in Melbourne. The statement reflects a cautious assessment following pre-season testing, where Red Bull showed strong performance but also faced challenges on fast laps, especially with competition from teams like Mercedes and Ferrari.
The 21-year-old driver also made a point of emphasizing that what matters is how the team performs throughout the season as a whole, and not just in the first tests or races: “But honestly, what happens in the first race, who cares? What matters is how you finish the year and how you build for the coming years,” he stated.
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Despite the uncertainties regarding one-lap pace, Hadjar is excited about his new phase at Red Bull, especially after a promising performance at Racing Bulls during his debut season in 2025: “I have always fought for podiums and victories since Karting, so what happened last year was something I wasn’t used to,” he said. Now, with the opportunity to race alongside Max Verstappen and aiming for the season’s results, Hadjar is ready to face the challenges that will come throughout the year.
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