Isack Hadjar Poised for 2026 Race Wins with Red Bull, Unfazed by Past Teammate Struggles.

Sakhir, Bahrain – Red Bull Racing’s newest recruit, Isack Hadjar, has expressed strong confidence in his ability to secure race victories during the highly anticipated 2026 Formula 1 season. The 21-year-old Frenchman, who will partner four-time world champion Max Verstappen, is entering a challenging environment, given the historical difficulties faced by drivers alongside the Dutchman. Hadjar’s assertions follow an intensive pre-season testing programme in Bahrain, which saw Red Bull demonstrate impressive early form.

Hadjar’s promotion to the senior Red Bull squad marks a significant moment in his burgeoning career. However, the path of a Red Bull second driver has been fraught with challenges since Daniel Ricciardo’s departure in 2018. Ricciardo, a proven race winner, was the last driver to consistently perform at a high level alongside Verstappen, securing two victories in 2018 before moving to Renault. Since then, the team has cycled through several drivers in pursuit of a consistent second-place finisher.

Sergio Perez, who joined Red Bull in 2021, initially showed promise, winning races and playing a crucial role in Verstappen’s championship campaigns. He finished fourth in the Drivers’ Championship in 2021, then third in 2022, and second in 2023, marking Red Bull’s first-ever 1-2 finish in the championship. Despite these successes, Perez often struggled to match Verstappen’s pace, particularly in qualifying, leading to a significant points deficit. In 2023, Verstappen outscored Perez by 290 points, highlighting the performance gap that often materialized as the season progressed. His qualifying average deficit to Verstappen was consistently over half a second in certain periods.

Prior to Perez, both Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon endured brief and difficult stints at Red Bull Racing. Gasly, promoted from Toro Rosso (now Racing Bulls) for the 2019 season, struggled immensely, failing to consistently score significant points or challenge the front runners. He was demoted back to Toro Rosso mid-season, having scored 63 points in 12 races compared to Verstappen’s 181. His time at the senior team was marked by a visible lack of confidence and inability to adapt to the RB15 chassis. Similarly, Alex Albon, who replaced Gasly, showed flashes of potential but ultimately faced similar struggles with consistency and outright pace against Verstappen. He spent a full season in 2020, finishing seventh in the championship with 105 points, while Verstappen finished third with 214 points. Both drivers eventually found success and rebuilt their careers at other teams, but their Red Bull tenures underscored the immense pressure and specific demands of the seat.

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Hadjar’s appointment also comes after an "impressive rookie campaign" with sister squad Racing Bulls, where he showcased his talent and potential. His strong performances in the junior categories, including his 2023 Formula 2 season where he finished 14th with one podium, have marked him as a driver with considerable promise within the Red Bull driver development programme. His move to the main team over other Red Bull-backed talents, such as Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda – both of whom have demonstrated strong performances for Racing Bulls – speaks volumes about the faith placed in him. Lawson notably impressed during his stand-in appearances in 2023, scoring points and demonstrating maturity beyond his years, while Tsunoda has become a consistent performer for Racing Bulls, albeit not consistently challenging for top-tier points.

The 2026 season itself will usher in a complete overhaul of Formula 1 regulations, a factor Hadjar believes could play into his hands. The new rules feature significantly altered aerodynamic concepts and a revised engine formula, with an increased electrical power component, aiming for a 50/50 split between internal combustion and electrical power. This regulatory reset is expected to level the playing field to some extent, presenting a fresh challenge for all teams and drivers, potentially mitigating the established performance advantage some drivers have built with current machinery.

"The excitement of fighting for wins against top drivers is still going to be here and that’s what matters the most," Hadjar stated during this week’s 2026 Bahrain pre-season test. "But still, you’d like to do it in cars that are super, super fast. It makes it a bit better." His comments reflect a desire not just to compete, but to do so at the very pinnacle of the sport, armed with top-tier equipment.

Early indications from the Bahrain pre-season testing suggest Red Bull could be a formidable force once again. The team has been a standout performer, with Max Verstappen completing an impressive 136 laps on Wednesday, signaling strong reliability and a deep understanding of the new RB22 chassis. Paddock observers have widely speculated that the new Red Bull Powertrains (RBPT) unit, developed in-house, appears to be the strongest on the grid, a crucial advantage in the new engine era. The extensive mileage accumulated by Verstappen underscores the team’s ability to extract performance and gather critical data for development.

Hadjar’s own pre-season experience in Bahrain was not without its minor setbacks. A hydraulic leak on Thursday morning limited his initial running. However, he quickly recovered, completing 86 laps in the afternoon session and setting the fifth-fastest lap time of the day. This swift recovery and competitive pace left the young Frenchman buoyed for the season ahead, reinforcing his belief in the team’s potential. Charles Leclerc of Ferrari topped day two, with Lando Norris of McLaren completing the most laps, providing context to Hadjar’s solid, if not chart-topping, performance.

When pressed on his confidence regarding achieving race wins in the new RB22, Hadjar responded with a succinct and sharp "yeah," betraying no hesitation. He elaborated on his ambition, stating, "Obviously, that first race win is on the radar – that would be great. I’d like to see our car progressing faster than the other teams. I think that would also be very enjoyable." His focus extends beyond personal success to the overall development trajectory of the team.

Hadjar also addressed an incident during a private Barcelona shakedown two weeks prior, where he crashed at the final corner on day two. The incident, which he attributed to switching from wet to intermediate tyres on a rain-soaked track, naturally drew comparisons within the F1 community to Pierre Gasly’s significant crash during the 2019 pre-season testing. Gasly’s incident was widely perceived as a psychological blow that contributed to his subsequent struggles at Red Bull.

When confronted with these comparisons and the notion of history repeating itself, Hadjar responded with a distinct sarcastic tone, demonstrating a remarkable level of mental resilience and a refusal to be defined by past events. "When I crashed, I thought about it directly, I thought about Pierre. So I went on Twitter and I read everything, and I was like, ‘I’m screwed for the whole season’ and that’s how I moved on, honestly," he quipped. This dismissive attitude suggests a driver who is not easily fazed by external narratives or the weight of past failures.

Hadjar’s confidence appears robust, indicating he is prepared to play a key role in Red Bull’s pursuit of success this year. His composure in the face of a complete regulatory overhaul and the daunting prospect of being Max Verstappen’s teammate underscores a strong mental fortitude. The 2026 season will undoubtedly present a monumental challenge, but Hadjar’s early declarations suggest he is ready to confront it head-on, aiming to rewrite the narrative for Red Bull’s second seat.

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Jonas Leo: Jonas Leo is a passionate motorsport journalist and lifelong Formula 1 enthusiast. With a sharp eye for race strategy and driver performance, he brings readers closer to the world of Grand Prix racing through in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive paddock insights. Jonas has covered everything from preseason testing to dramatic title deciders, capturing the emotion and precision that define modern F1. When he’s not tracking lap times or pit stop tactics, he enjoys exploring classic racing archives and writing about the evolution of F1 technology.

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