Hadjar compares pace to Verstappen and sets next target for 2026 F1 season

Isack Hadjar believes his growth through the first half of the current Formula 1 season puts him in a position to fight for his first podium of 2026. The Red Bull driver stated he was already showing pace close to Max Verstappen at several rounds, pointing to his recent consistency as a key factor in raising his ambitions for the championship.

Speaking to reporters during a mid-season debrief, Hadjar assessed that he kicked off the year making mistakes on simple details, but highlighted that he quickly found the pace needed to address those flaws and achieve greater regularity. It is worth noting that the Frenchman finished in the top three at the Monaco GP, but lost the result following a protest by Alpine, which secured third place for Pierre Gasly.

“In the opening rounds, I feel like I was making a lot of mistakes on the simple things, while the hard parts—like being fast, keeping the pace, and not staying too far behind Max [Verstappen]—were going really well. Over the last few races, I think I’ve found a good level of consistency and, as a team, we solved a few issues that made our lives easier,” he said.

“It’s much easier [to drive] when the car is reliable. With good performance, getting results becomes easier, I won’t lie. The season is going great, but at the same time, I would love to compete in a race where I can truly fight for the podium. That’s the next target,” he concluded.