Isack Hadjar is setting his own expectations at Red Bull in Formula 1 somewhat low, accepting that he will be “slower in the first months” than Max Verstappen.
The 21-year-old was officially announced as Verstappen’s team-mate at the Milton Keynes-based squad for next season, achieving promotion from satellite team Racing Bulls.
This comes after a stellar maiden campaign, which has seen him take a podium finish amid many other points finishes, currently leaving him 10th in the Drivers’ standings.
Hadjar will join a long line of Red Bull juniors who have been handed this privilege, but many have speculated how he will cope in comparison to those who have previously failed.
But the Frenchman believes he is taking a different tack to those that have come before him to stand a better chance of successfully growing towards Verstappen’s level.
“If anything, the goal is to accept that I’m going to be slower [in] the first months,” he told select media including Motorsport Week, ahead of this weekend’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
“I think that if you go into that mindset, you accept already, 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.”
2026 is an outlier due to the new rules ensuring a clean slate for all drivers, as all will have to start learning how to drive the new 50-50 hybrid machines that will be on the grid.
When put to him that that could afford him a chance of getting reasonably close to Verstappen, Hadjar admitted it is a possibility, but was quick to point out that Verstappen is a unique talent, who will be hard to beat regardless.
“If I was to jump in, if there was another year of this regulation, no way [I could beat him],” he expressed.
“But because you never know, maybe the way you have to drive this 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 and that’s what makes his strength. He’s going to be as good in next year’s car as he is on this year’s car and as he was on the year before. He’s constantly adapting too.”
Hadjar insists approach to Verstappen is realistic, not defeatist
Hadjar’s outlook on the issue of matching Verstappen – which Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon and Sergio Perez all failed to do – is open but, perhaps to many, defeatist.
The rookie is not of this frame of mind, believing that his approach is realistic and beneficial in the long term, theorising that his predecessors in that much-maligned number two seat were setting their own expectations too high.
“Yeah, but I think they think the opposite,” he countered. “You know, like, everyone thinks they’re special. And you come in, you’re like, ‘He’s a human, I’m going to beat him’. And then you get stomped over. And then the snowball effect starts.
“And we’re talking about the best driver on the grid, so the chance that I’m slower at the start of the year is very high.
“So might as well accept it now and just walk towards getting there. Of course, I’m hoping to be as fast as him. I’m hoping, but realistically, there’s very few chances.”
READ MORE – The Ayrton Senna attribute that convinced Red Bull to promote Isack Hadjar to senior F1 team
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