Jun.16 (GMM) Isack Hadjar says working alongside Max Verstappen has confirmed exactly why the Dutchman is regarded as Formula 1’s benchmark driver.
The 21-year-old Frenchman became Verstappen’s eighth teammate in Formula 1 earlier this season and, unlike many predecessors, has so far managed to remain competitive alongside the quadruple world champion.
Now fresh from his breakthrough podium in Monaco – later lost after Pierre Gasly’s successful appeal – Hadjar admits he is still adjusting to life at the front.
“Sometimes I think about it and I look back, and then I think: I’ve done pretty well,” he told Viaplay.
“At other times, I think: this is exactly where I belong.”
He said one of the biggest benefits has been access to Verstappen’s data. Asked where the Dutchman impresses most, Hadjar did not hesitate.
“Every corner,” he replied immediately.
“If you’re faster than Max in one corner, that already means you’re doing very well.”
Having raced against talented teammates throughout Formula 4, Formula 3, Formula 2 and now Formula 1, Hadjar says Verstappen stands apart from anyone he has encountered before.
“Every teammate has certain weaknesses and then you’re faster in some corners all weekend,” he explained. “With Max, everything is constant and of a very high level.
“That’s impressive.”
The Frenchman is well aware of the long list of drivers whose careers suffered after partnering Verstappen, including Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Sergio Perez, Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda.
However, he insists the prospect never worried him.
“I was rather curious why that happened,” Hadjar said.
After seven race weekends alongside Verstappen, he was asked if he had discovered the answer. “I didn’t find the answer,” he smiled.
“But I do know it shouldn’t happen to me.”
Hadjar also dismissed suggestions that Verstappen receives preferential treatment within Red Bull. “If we have equal cars, which we have now, I know it will be fine,” he said.
When asked whether he expected the team to continue providing identical equipment, Hadjar quickly clarified his position.
“Yes, of course. That’s how a team works. This is Red Bull Racing.
“They know how to make two cars perform well.”
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