News Summary
- Isack Hadjar scored 36 points across the latest five Grands Prix, ahead of Oscar Piastri, Liam Lawson and George Russell.
- His third-place finish in São Paulo helped Red Bull collect 152 points in the period, more than any other team.
- Hadjar’s recent results strengthen his position within Red Bull as the team prepares to challenge Mercedes in 2027.
Isack Hadjar has outscored Oscar Piastri, Liam Lawson and George Russell across the last five Formula 1 Grands Prix, providing an important contribution to Red Bull’s remarkable late-season recovery. The Frenchman collected 36 points during the period, compared with 32 for Piastri, 30 for Lawson and 26 for Russell.
The comparison is particularly striking because Hadjar is competing against drivers from Mercedes and McLaren, two teams that have spent much of 2026 ahead of Red Bull in the championship. His recent performances have helped the Austrian outfit become the highest-scoring constructor over the latest five rounds.
Hadjar’s third-place finish at the São Paulo Grand Prix reinforced that progress, giving Red Bull a double podium alongside Max Verstappen and strengthening its position ahead of McLaren in the constructors’ standings.
Hadjar beats Piastri, Lawson and Russell in recent F1 points
An analysis by GRANDE PRÊMIO divides the opening 20 Grands Prix into four five-race periods, including sprint points.
| Driver | R1–5 | R6–10 | R11–15 | R16–20 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I. HADJAR | 14 | 49 | 23 | 36 | 122 |
| O. PIASTRI | 48 | 46 | 26 | 32 | 152 |
| L. LAWSON | 16 | 25 | 18 | 30 | 89 |
| G. RUSSELL | 88 | 66 | 82 | 26 | 262 |
Hadjar began the season with 14 points in the opening five races before improving dramatically to 49 in the second period. His total then fell to 23 between rounds 11 and 15, but he recovered to 36 across the most recent five.
That latest return places him ahead of Piastri by four points, Lawson by six and Russell by ten.
The comparison does not mean Hadjar has been consistently faster than all three drivers. Reliability, incidents, penalties and race strategy influence points totals, while the four competitors race for different teams.
However, the figures demonstrate how effectively Hadjar has converted recent opportunities into championship points.
São Paulo podium shows Hadjar’s growing importance to Red Bull
Hadjar’s strongest recent result came at Interlagos, where he finished third behind Lando Norris and Verstappen.
The Frenchman started fifth, passed Andrea Kimi Antonelli during the race and ran second before Red Bull instructed him to allow Verstappen through on lap 38.
Hadjar complied, allowing his teammate to pursue Norris. Verstappen was unable to catch the McLaren, and the Red Bull drivers eventually finished second and third.
The team had considered returning the position if Verstappen failed to take the lead, but the race ended without another swap.
The result gave Hadjar his third podium of the season and secured 15 championship points.
As GRANDE PRÊMIO reported after the race, Hadjar had earned second place on track before Red Bull prioritised Verstappen’s attempt to win.
His performance was especially valuable because Verstappen had started 21st following power-unit penalties.
Together, the teammates scored 33 points in São Paulo, matching McLaren’s total and maintaining Red Bull’s advantage over its rival in the constructors’ championship.
Hadjar contributes nearly a quarter of Red Bull’s recent points
Red Bull’s improvement has been one of the defining developments of the second half of 2026.
The team scored 57 points in the opening five races, followed by 97, 109 and 152 across the subsequent periods.
Verstappen has been the principal driver of that recovery, collecting 116 points in the latest five Grands Prix. Hadjar contributed the remaining 36, accounting for approximately 23.7% of Red Bull’s recent total.
The Frenchman’s contribution is significant because a strong lead driver alone is not enough to maximise a team’s constructors’ championship results.
Red Bull’s recent performances demonstrate the value of having both cars capable of scoring regularly, particularly when Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren remain competitive.
The complete GRANDE PRÊMIO analysis of the first 20 races revealed that Red Bull outscored Mercedes by 38 points across the latest five Grands Prix.
Hadjar’s performances were an important part of that reversal.
Red Bull’s recovery strengthens Hadjar’s outlook for 2027
Hadjar’s recent results also reinforce his position within Red Bull as the team prepares for 2027.
The Frenchman has accumulated 122 points across the first 20 Grands Prix, placing him eighth in the drivers’ championship, 30 points behind Piastri.
His season has included three podium finishes and several performances that have demonstrated his ability to compete near the front.
The progress is particularly important because Red Bull’s second seat has historically been a difficult position, with drivers frequently struggling to match Verstappen.
Hadjar has not matched his teammate’s points total, but his recent performances suggest he is becoming a more reliable contributor.
The São Paulo podium also demonstrated his ability to manage a difficult race in changing weather conditions, even after surrendering a position to Verstappen.
Hadjar later revealed how close he came to hitting Red Bull’s mechanics during a chaotic pit stop, underlining the challenges he faced throughout the weekend.
With Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi remaining, the Frenchman has three opportunities to maintain his recent momentum and strengthen Red Bull’s preparations for next season.
GRANDE PRÊMIO is following every session of the 2026 Formula 1 championship and the teams’ preparations for 2027.
