Feb.25 (GMM) Isack Hadjar appears to be making a smooth start at Red Bull Racing after replacing Yuki Tsunoda as Max Verstappen’s teammate for 2026.
The young Frenchman has kept a relatively low profile over the winter, but early signs suggest he is adapting well to life inside one of Formula 1’s most intense garages.
“As a guy like me who really enjoys the hard work, I felt a bit more comfortable here,” Hadjar said. “I’m very, very happy working with these guys who are very committed to winning. I’m very happy to be here. I’m very lucky.
“It’s going very smoothly.”
He has even hinted that he feels more at ease at Red Bull than he did within the sister Racing Bulls structure.
Crucially, Hadjar says his relationship with reigning champion Max Verstappen is already positive.
“Max doesn’t hide any data,” he told Auto Hebdo. “He doesn’t withhold any information from me and answers all my questions. And since he always performs well on the track, our data can be easily compared.”
Hadjar added that Verstappen’s feedback aligns perfectly with the telemetry.
“He’s not lying,” he said. “For me, it’s important that what the driver says matches the data. That helps my development a lot.”
Interestingly, two former Verstappen teammates – Alexander Albon and Sergio Perez – have both backed Hadjar to succeed where others struggled.
“I think Isack is a fast driver, and the rule change in 2026 is a good thing for him – it’s a clean slate for everyone,” Albon said. “From what I’ve seen so far, he seems quite comfortable in the car. He’ll have a lot to learn, having a very fast teammate like Max, but I think he’ll do quite well.”
Perez also believes the timing is right.
“He is ready to go to Red Bull,” the Mexican said. “With such a change in regulations, I think Isack is a very talented driver. If he keeps a cool head throughout the year, he’ll have a long and successful F1 career.
“Being Max’s teammate at Red Bull, in a very good team, is a huge opportunity.”
Hadjar himself is realistic about the team’s current competitiveness.
“What’s certain is that we’re not the fastest,” he admitted. At worst, he sees Red Bull as the fourth-strongest force heading into Melbourne, suggesting even an eighth-place finish would represent a logical starting point rather than a setback.
He currently rates Ferrari as particularly strong, with Mercedes and McLaren close behind.
However, Hadjar remains optimistic.
“Our reliability is good and the race pace looks solid,” he said. “I expect, at least at the start of the season, that we will be more competitive in the race than in qualifying.”
Join Grand Prix Tours in Austin, Texas for the high-energy 2026 United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas. Experience nonstop action on one of Formula 1’s most exciting tracks, featuring dramatic elevation changes, thrilling overtakes, and a packed race weekend. Off the track, enjoy a festival atmosphere with live music, world-famous BBQ, and buzzing nightlife. Your Grand Prix Tours package includes a fully curated race weekend, highlighted by exclusive access to our private F1 Celebrity Talk Show, where guests gain insider insights and behind-the-scenes perspectives. With demand soaring and this event quickly becoming a modern American racing tradition, now is the time to secure your spot for an unforgettable Austin Grand Prix experience.
SHOW PACKAGES
There are motorsport events, and then there is the Indianapolis 500, the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing." Next year marks Grand Prix Tours' 42nd Indianapolis 500 tour and our decades of experience and local connections provide exclusive access that few fans ever enjoy, including police escorts on race day, a Dallara IndyCar Factory tour, Gasoline Alley and Legends Day, the Driver Introduction Ceremony, and a private dinner with former Indy driver Derek Daly. Combined with excellent hotel accommodations, seamless event planning, and Grand Prix Tours' signature service, this is far more than a race weekend; it's a once-in-a-lifetime motorsport experience. With tour spaces limited each year, we encourage you to reserve your place early for the 111th Indianapolis 500.
SHOW PACKAGES
Experience Formula 1 at its most iconic with an unforgettable trip to the 2027 Grand Prix de Monaco. Feel the excitement as the world’s best drivers race through the legendary streets of Monte Carlo, surrounded by superyachts, Mediterranean views, and the unmistakable glamour of Monaco. From incredible race viewing to carefully selected accommodations, Grand Prix Tours brings you closer to the action at one of the most prestigious and spectacular events in all of motorsport.
SHOW PACKAGES
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the ultimate test of speed, strategy, and endurance. Watch the world's top manufacturers battle for 24 nonstop hours in one of motorsport's most prestigious events. With Grand Prix Tours handling your accommodations, transfers, and ticket options, all that's left is to experience this unforgettable bucket-list race.
SHOW PACKAGES
Feel the roar of Formula 1 at its spiritual home. Silverstone is one of the fastest and most demanding circuits in the world, where brave overtakes, lightning-fast direction changes, and flat-out commitment separate the best from the rest. Combined with the electric atmosphere created by hundreds of thousands of passionate fans, the British Grand Prix delivers a race weekend unlike any other.
SHOW PACKAGES