Seventh in Suzuka, Isack Hadjar confirms his rise in power at Red Bull despite an RB22 that is still difficult to exploit.
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On the Suzuka circuit, Isack Hadjar once again held his own. The Frenchman climbed into Q3 to take seventh place on the grid for the Japanese Grand Prix, becoming the only Red Bull driver to reach the final top 10.
A performance all the more notable as it is already the second time in three races that he has finished ahead of his illustrious teammate Max Verstappen. In a context where the RB22 is struggling to convince, Hadjar confirms his ability to maximize the potential of his car.
An RB22 still as temperamental as ever
Despite this encouraging result, the driver’s feeling remains mixed. From the first laps, Hadjar had to deal with an unstable car that was difficult to understand, a recurring problem since the start of the season.
“I found the car very complicated to drive from the first lap, he confides. I was able to make the adjustments I wanted and it was a bit better, but we are still not satisfied.”
Red Bull engineers multiplied changes and tests throughout the weekend, without however finding a clear solution.
“It’s complicated, we changed a lot of parts on the car, we did comparisons, but it’s not understandable for now.”
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A clear personal satisfaction
In this delicate context, Hadjar can nevertheless be pleased with his level of performance. Regularly beating Verstappen, known for getting the most out of any car, is a strong signal for the young driver.
“I’m certainly happy with myself, the car isn’t easy, I have a teammate who is what he is, so on my side I find it hard to see myself doing better.”
Lucid about his performance, he nevertheless admits that a small mistake on his last lap probably deprived him of an even better result: “I’m happy with myself but I’d like to be fighting for pole.”
Between progression and high ambitions
This mix of satisfaction and frustration perfectly summarizes Hadjar’s current situation. If he continues to progress and assert himself within Red Bull, the gap with the leading teams remains too large to aim for the top positions.
The Frenchman nevertheless seems to be on the right track. His consistency and ability to adapt in difficult conditions could quickly pay off if Red Bull manages to solve the RB22’s problems.
In Suzuka, Hadjar confirmed that he is now a force to be reckoned with. It remains to be seen whether these solid performances can be turned into real flashes of brilliance, with a fight for the top spots in his sights, which still seems out of reach… but not for much longer.
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