Hadjar relishes the challenge of measuring himself against Verstappen

Isack Hadjar says he feels fortunate to share a Red Bull garage with Max Verstappen, whom he regards as operating at the highest level a Formula 1 driver can reach. The 22-year-old enjoys trying to match and surpass his team-mate’s benchmark in every session; he recently secured a contract extension to remain at Red Bull through the 2027 season.

Speaking on Formula 1’s Beyond The Grid podcast, Hadjar said he believes his single-lap pace compares favourably with Verstappen’s, while viewing the four-time champion’s race-day execution as unmatched. He illustrated the consistency gap with a hypothetical lap: even if another driver excels in several corners, Hadjar said, Verstappen can match that level there and sustain it through the rest.

Hadjar said he does not look at Verstappen’s data and see something impossible to reproduce. The difference, in his view, is how often Verstappen delivers at that level.