Isack Hadjar has described the 2026 Brazilian Grand Prix as the most challenging race he has ever experienced after securing third place at Interlagos and completing a double podium finish for Red Bull. The 22-year-old Franco-Algerian driver overcame constantly changing weather and track conditions to finish behind Lando Norris and Max Verstappen, praising his team for managing a demanding afternoon.
Red Bull enjoyed a positive conclusion to the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend, with both drivers finishing on the podium. Max Verstappen produced an impressive recovery from the back of the grid to claim second place, while Hadjar crossed the line third, securing another podium at a particularly difficult circuit.
Isack Hadjar completes Red Bull double podium at Brazilian Grand Prix
Hadjar’s third-place finish marked his third appearance on the third step of a Formula 1 podium, following previous successes at the street circuits of Monaco and Baku. This time, however, the challenge was very different, with the unpredictable weather at Interlagos forcing drivers to adapt throughout the race.
While Max Verstappen delivered an impressive recovery drive to finish second, Hadjar produced a performance with very few mistakes to ensure both Red Bull cars finished among the top three.
The result also helped Red Bull close the gap to Ferrari in the Constructors’ Championship battle for second place. The two podium finishes strengthened the team’s position as the season approaches its final races, with the Brazilian Grand Prix Constructors’ standings reflecting Red Bull’s progress.
Isack Hadjar reveals toughest race of his career at Interlagos
The final result reflected not only the competitiveness of the Red Bull but also Hadjar’s ability to manage the constantly changing conditions at the São Paulo circuit. The 22-year-old faced several challenges as the weather and track surface evolved throughout the Grand Prix.
Speaking after the race and the podium celebrations, Hadjar admitted that he had never encountered so many difficulties in a single event. He was particularly keen to praise the work of his team and the mechanics responsible for keeping him in contention.
“It was a really demanding race, with extremely difficult conditions, but I enjoyed it a lot. I’ve never had to face so many challenges in a single race, but as a team we managed them in the best possible way, and I’m absolutely delighted that we achieved a double podium.
“A huge thank you to the mechanics in the pits, who did an extraordinary job and allowed us to stay in contention.”
Red Bull tyre performance improves as Hadjar battles Kimi Antonelli
Hadjar also explained how the performance of his tyres changed during the race. The Red Bull driver initially struggled during the middle of his stint on intermediate tyres, but the situation improved when he switched to the soft compound.
Despite the rain returning towards the end of the Grand Prix, Hadjar found that his car remained competitive, allowing him to maintain his strong position.
“I struggled a little in the middle of the stint on the intermediate tyres, but then things improved and we were very competitive on the soft tyres, even when it started raining again towards the end.
“I really enjoyed the battle with Kimi during the final laps. It was fantastic to race against him, and it’s even better to stand on the podium alongside two exceptional drivers.”
His late-race fight with Andrea Kimi Antonelli added another challenge to an already demanding afternoon, with the Red Bull driver ultimately finishing on the podium while the Mercedes world champion took fifth place.
Isack Hadjar confident Red Bull is heading in the right direction
Beyond his personal achievement, Hadjar believes the result demonstrates the progress Red Bull has made with its car. The team’s double podium at Interlagos provided further encouragement ahead of the remaining races of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
“It’s a result that is enormously rewarding for the entire team. We’re moving in the right direction with the car, which gives us a lot of confidence heading into the next races.”
Hadjar’s performance was another positive outcome for Red Bull, with both drivers demonstrating their ability to extract strong results in unpredictable conditions. The final Brazilian Grand Prix classification confirmed Lando Norris as the winner, followed by Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar in second and third respectively.
With three third-place finishes now to his name, Hadjar leaves Brazil encouraged by both his own performance and the continued development of the Red Bull, as the team looks to carry its momentum into the final rounds of the championship.
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