Red Bull struggling with race starts as Hadjar insists: “It’s not human error”
Race starts continue to be one of Red Bull’s biggest weaknesses during the opening phase of the 2026 Formula 1 season. Speaking during Thursday’s FIA drivers’ press conference ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix, Isack Hadjar addressed the issue, explaining that the team’s difficulties when the lights go out are not the result of mistakes by the driver.
The problem has already been highlighted on several occasions by Max Verstappen, reinforcing the belief that Red Bull’s start procedure is significantly more complicated than that of its main Formula 1 rivals.
However, launching the car off the line is not the only challenge facing the Milton Keynes-based team. The RB22 continues to suffer from a lack of aerodynamic downforce and grip through high-speed corners, while its long-standing weight problem is still compromising the car’s overall performance just as Red Bull prepares for its home race in Austria.
Hadjar explains Red Bull’s difficult starts
Hadjar revealed that the team is still working to identify the root cause of its inconsistent launches, stressing that the issue does not lie with his execution behind the wheel.
“I think we’ve only had one really good start so far this year, in the Sprint race in Canada. Maybe the first start in Monaco as well, and that’s about it. That’s exactly what we’re trying to understand, and it’s quite complicated. To be clear, it’s not human error on my part.”
With Red Bull still searching for answers, improving race starts will remain one of the team’s top priorities as it looks to regain ground in an increasingly competitive Formula 1 championship.
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