Very convincing since his arrival at Red Bull, Isack Hadjar nevertheless believes that Max Verstappen retains a major advantage in a key area in Formula 1.
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Isack Hadjar is making a promising start under the colors of Red Bull. After only eleven Grands Prix contested this season, the Frenchman has established himself as the first teammate of Max Verstappen to truly hold his own for several years.
While his qualifying performances are encouraging, the 21-year-old driver acknowledges that there is still one area in which his four-time world champion teammate simply operates on another level: race management.
Progress that does not surprise Hadjar
Contrary to what some might think, Hadjar says he is not surprised by his level of performance this season.
After a first year of learning in Formula 1, he believes that this progress is logical.
“Honestly, I haven’t surprised myself this year. I am simply driving at a better level than last year.”
The Frenchman reminds that he continues to gain experience, which naturally explains his progress.
“It’s normal, it’s only my second season. I still lack experience, but I continue to improve little by little.”
The first teammate to resist Verstappen for a long time
In recent years, several drivers have failed alongside Max Verstappen.
After the difficulties encountered by Sergio Pérez, Liam Lawson then Yuki Tsunoda also failed to establish themselves at the wheel of the second Red Bull, a car known to be particularly demanding.
Hadjar, who himself admitted to doubting his ability to succeed where his predecessors had failed, now seems to adapt better to the RB22.
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His level of performance, especially in qualifying, is much closer to that of the Dutchman than that displayed by Verstappen’s previous teammates.
Verstappen remains the benchmark on Sundays
While Hadjar is satisfied with his one-lap pace, he acknowledges that he still has an important task to fully compete with his teammate.
According to him, Verstappen still makes the difference in the overall management of Grands Prix.
“I would say Max is extremely impressive on Sundays, in every aspect.”
The Frenchman believes his qualifying pace is already solid, but the way Verstappen builds a race remains a benchmark.
“I think my one-lap speed is pretty good. However, the way he manages races is on another level. That’s precisely the aspect I am working on currently.”
A clear goal for the rest of the season
Beyond pure speed, Hadjar now wants to improve in several essential aspects of a Grand Prix: tire management, long-run pace, strategic reading of the race, and the ability to adapt his driving to the different phases of an event.
All qualities that today make Max Verstappen one of the absolute references in the discipline.
For Hadjar, continuing to develop alongside such a driver ultimately represents the best possible school. And if his current performances confirm that he has found his place at Red Bull, he also knows that reaching a new level will primarily come through better race mastery, where Verstappen continues, in his own words, to operate “on another level.”
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