Isack Hadjar has spoken about his connection with Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen following his appointment alongside the four‑time world champion.
Hadjar’s impressive debut season secured his promotion to the Milton Keynes‑based Red Bull squad, after earlier drivers such as Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda failed to approach Verstappen’s standards in 2025.
His performance has been promising. Although Verstappen’s dominance over earlier teammates was unquestioned, the French driver has already outqualified his more experienced teammate on two occasions and posted lap times within 0.12 seconds on four further attempts.
When asked whether Verstappen typically offers guidance or shares a peer‑to‑peer rapport, Hadjar responded: “He never seeks my counsel, but when I ask, he answers. If I need details, he is extremely forthcoming and courteous, knowing his own strength.”
Nonetheless, competing directly with Verstappen presents a considerable challenge for Hadjar, who has reflected on the effort required to reach that level.
“There is no room for complacency,” he said. “Each time I step onto the circuit, he sets a lap that represents the pinnacle of performance, forcing me to make significant improvements just to stay competitive.”
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Clive Mason / Getty Images
Therefore, whenever I am on the track, I recognize the need to push myself intensely, as the benchmark he sets is extraordinary.
Attempting to match Verstappen has resulted in several on‑track errors for Hadjar, including retirement from the Miami Grand Prix and a collision with a barrier during free practice in Monaco.
When questioned about his approach to errors, Hadjar smiled: “Ideally, I avoid repeating them, and that remains the objective.”
It is not always straightforward, but I remain unconcerned. As a young driver in my second season, I am still learning from mistakes. Should I ever possess a championship‑winning car, I will strive to eliminate them.
Nevertheless, I am primarily concentrated on my own performance, using the benchmark of the sport’s elite as my point of reference.
Additional reporting by Ronald Vording
