Isack Hadjar’s evolution in Formula 1 does not surprise him, but the Red Bull Racing driver acknowledges that Max Verstappen still has a clear advantage. According to the Frenchman, his teammate’s race management is on a higher level and has become his main development goal.
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These statements were given to the press after the first half of the season. Hadjar said he is satisfied with his performance so far, especially since he is in his second year in the category, but believes he still needs to improve to reach the level shown by Verstappen on Sundays.
The 21-year-old driver is experiencing his first full season at Red Bull Racing, after being promoted from Racing Bulls at the end of last year. After eleven rounds, he considers the progress compared to 2025 natural and highlighted that he was not surprised by the performance shown so far: “Actually, I was not surprised this season. I am just driving at a high level, certainly better than last year. That is normal because I am in my second season, I still don’t have much experience, but I am improving little by little,” he said.
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Hadjar also recalled that, in previous generations of Formula 1 cars, Red Bull models ended up being developed according to Verstappen’s extreme preferences. Even so, in this new phase of the regulations, he believes he has managed to adapt better to the RB22 than other drivers who previously shared the team with the four-time world champion.
Despite confidence in his performance in qualifying laps, the Frenchman made it clear that he sees significant room to grow in race pace and GP management: “I would say Max has been very impressive on Sundays in every aspect. I think my one-lap pace has been very good, but the way he manages races is on another level. That is exactly what I am working on,” Hadjar concluded, showing a lot of confidence.
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