Isack Hadjar says he’s certain he will be slower than Max Verstappen when he first starts work at Red Bull and is mentally preparing himself to be able to handle a “tough” and “frustrating” spell in 2026.
Red Bull has promoted Hadjar to partner Verstappen next season, replacing Yuki Tsunoda who took over from Liam Lawson two races into 2025. Lawson’s short-lived tenure came following struggles for Sergio Perez, and Hadjar says he is trying to get himself ready for a situation where he shouldn’t overly compare himself to his new teammate.
“If anything, the goal is to accept that I’m going to be slower the first months,” Hadjar said. “I think that if you go into that mindset, you accept already that it’s going to be very tough – looking at the data and seeing things you can’t achieve yet, it’s going to be very frustrating. But if you know, then you’re more prepared.
“You never know. Maybe the way you have to drive this [Racing Bulls] car is suiting me perfectly. But at the same time, it’s Max Verstappen. He doesn’t have a driving style, he adapts to what he’s given. That’s what makes his strength. He’s going to be as good in next year’s car as he is in this year’s car and as he was the year before. He’s constantly adapting too.”
Rather than seeing it as a defeatist attitude, Hadjar believes other drivers have gone into the Red Bull seat believing they will be able to match up to Verstappen and not being able to handle the challenge of having to overcome an early deficit.
“I think they think the opposite [of me]. Everyone thinks they are special. Then you come in, you’re like, ‘He’s a human, I’m going to beat him.’ Then you get stomped over. And then the snowball effect starts.
“We’re talking about the best driver on the grid. The chance that I’m slower at the start of the year is very high. I might as well accept it now and just work towards getting there. Of course, I’m hoping to be as fast as him. I’m hoping, but realistically, there’s very few chances.”
