Anthony Davidson believes that Isack Hadjar is having a remarkable start at Red Bull, where he is doing better than most of Max Verstappen’s former teammates.
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Driving alongside Max Verstappen is often considered one of the toughest challenges in Formula 1. Since Daniel Ricciardo’s departure at the end of 2018, several drivers have struggled in the second Red Bull seat. Yet, Isack Hadjar seems to be succeeding where many have failed.
For Anthony Davidson, the Frenchman is having a particularly convincing start to the season. The former Formula 1 driver even believes he is doing better than the majority of teammates who have shared the garage with the four-time world champion.
A challenge few drivers have met
Over the past few years, many drivers have tried to establish themselves against Max Verstappen. Pierre Gasly lasted only eleven Grands Prix before being demoted. Alex Albon kept his seat for only a season and a half, while Sergio Pérez, despite several wins, also ended up losing his place after a drop in performance.
More recently, Liam Lawson only competed in the first two rounds of the 2025 season before being replaced by Yuki Tsunoda. The latter also failed to establish himself as a true support for Verstappen.
In this context, Isack Hadjar’s debut takes on a special significance.
After eleven Grands Prix in 2026, the Frenchman shows an average gap slightly over two-tenths of a second behind Verstappen in qualifying. This gap is below the internal target set by Red Bull, which would like its second driver to stay within a maximum window of three-tenths.
Davidson praises the Frenchman’s maturity
For Anthony Davidson, competing alongside a driver of Verstappen’s caliber is a true indicator of a driver’s real level.
“Being alongside Max Verstappen is always a huge challenge, but it also allows you to know exactly where the benchmark stands.”
The former British driver reminds that all young drivers arrive in Formula 1 convinced they belong among the best. But once confronted with the world elite, they quickly discover the level of demand required to succeed.
“When you start, you naturally think you are the best. Then you arrive in Formula 1 and discover drivers at least as talented as you, if not better. Mentally, it’s a very difficult step to overcome.”
According to Davidson, Hadjar approaches this situation with a lot of clarity.
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“Facing someone like Max Verstappen, there is nowhere to hide. It’s a very honest experience for Isack Hadjar, who is himself a very honest driver in his approach.”
Numbers that speak in his favor
Beyond impressions, statistics also confirm the Frenchman’s good performances.
Since the start of the season, Hadjar has already scored 68 points, more than double the 30 points scored by Yuki Tsunoda… while the Japanese driver had twice as many Grands Prix to reach that total.
The 21-year-old driver has also stood out with several notable performances, including a second-row qualifying in Australia and a fourth place in Monaco, his best result so far.
Above all, none of Verstappen’s teammates since Daniel Ricciardo had managed to consistently maintain a gap of less than three-tenths in qualifying.
A very promising start to the season
For Anthony Davidson, these elements testify to the quality of the work done by Hadjar since his arrival at Red Bull.
“I think he is really doing an excellent job, better than many Red Bull drivers alongside Verstappen.”
The former driver also emphasizes the Frenchman’s consistency, who continues to stay close to his teammate session after session.
“On average, he concedes just under two-tenths in qualifying, and he has demonstrated that again recently. He can be proud of what he has achieved since the start of the season.”
After several years of struggling to find a teammate capable of supporting Max Verstappen, Red Bull seems to have finally found a driver able to meet expectations. Now it remains to confirm this strong first half of the season in the upcoming Grands Prix.
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