Max Verstappen’s performance in the 2026 Formula 1 season continues to draw attention, even with the difficulties faced by Red Bull Racing. For former IndyCar driver and current commentator James Hinchcliffe, the so-called ‘Verstappen factor’ still makes a difference.
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Hinchcliffe included the Dutchman among his top five drivers of the season, alongside Lando Norris, Liam Lawson, Gabriel Bortoleto, and Kimi Antonelli. The assessment gains weight given the limitations of the RB22, which according to the Canadian has been a difficult car to drive.
“It is true that this season has sometimes been harder to evaluate for Max Verstappen. The RB22 is difficult to handle even at its best,” wrote Hinchcliffe. Still, the commentator highlighted that the Red Bull driver continues to deliver performances beyond what the car seems to allow.
Another point highlighted was the comparison with Isack Hadjar, Verstappen’s teammate. Hinchcliffe acknowledged the young driver’s work but noted that he scored only 62% of the points of the four-time world champion, despite both facing difficulties with the car’s balance.
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According to the Canadian, the difference between the two increases as the RB22’s behavior approaches Verstappen’s preferences: “As always, the closer it gets to the feel Max prefers, the bigger the gap grows to the guy in the other car,” he said.
Hinchcliffe also pointed out some specific performances as examples of the Dutchman’s ability to extract unexpected results. For him, the race in Hungary was the clearest demonstration of this, although Verstappen finished second, fifteen seconds behind Norris. Even so, the Dutch driver enters the second half of the championship 110 points behind Antonelli in the standings.
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