Isack Hadjar left Silverstone with some regrets, but Laurent Mekies prefers to focus on the Frenchman’s constant progress, who continues, according to him, to reach a new level at each Grand Prix.
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After an already convincing weekend in Austria, Hadjar qualified in a remarkable fifth place at the British Grand Prix, two positions ahead of his teammate Max Verstappen.
However, his race was compromised by a front wing problem that caused a significant loss of performance.
“A step forward every time he takes to the track”
Despite this setback, Mekies believes the weekend’s outcome remains largely positive: “We noticed a loss of performance on Isack’s car during the race. It is still too early to explain why the wing was damaged, but it was frustrating. On the positive side, I think Isack had a solid weekend.”
The Red Bull team principal especially highlights the Frenchman’s ability to progress regularly since the start of his first season with the team: “Honestly, he has been performing since the beginning of the season. During difficult weekends as well as when the car was working well, he has been able to follow his own path and improve race after race, both in terms of experience and skills.”
Hadjar also benefits from Verstappen’s presence to accelerate his learning: “He learns a lot from Max and improves a little more each time he drives the car. Today was no exception. He will not be satisfied with a fourth or fifth place, and neither are we.”
However, Mekies prefers to look at the situation as a whole: “What matters to us is that he reaches a new level every time he takes the track with the car. This is positive for the rest of the season.”
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Hadjar and Verstappen face the same difficulties
The Red Bull boss also discussed the differences in how Hadjar and Verstappen describe the RB22’s handling issues.
While the four-time world champion is regularly very critical of his car, Hadjar adopts a more measured tone. According to Mekies, this does not mean that the two drivers face different difficulties.
“Max is not satisfied with the car’s balance, that is a fact. He believes that the car’s intrinsic potential could allow us to achieve much better results if we manage to solve our balance problems.”
“I think Isack notices the same limitations, or at least similar limitations,” the boss observes. “So we are not in a situation where one driver says one thing and the other the opposite. They describe the same problem, just in different ways.”
This difference would mainly be explained by Verstappen’s much greater experience: “Max projects himself more on what the car’s potential could be, while Isack, who has less experience, probably does not push his analysis that far yet.”
Despite the frustration related to the front wing problem encountered at Silverstone, Red Bull is therefore particularly satisfied with Hadjar’s development. His speed, adaptability, and the lessons he draws from his collaboration with Verstappen strengthen the team’s confidence in the Frenchman for the rest of the season.
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