“Not hard to drive, just slow” – Isack Hadjar’s blunt assessment of the 2026 Red Bull. Isack Hadjar analyzes the technical flaws of the Red Bull RB22 at Suzuka.

The challenging start to Red Bull’s 2026 season is no secret within the F1 paddock. The Milton Keynes-based team, under team principal Laurent Mekies, is working hard to resolve the technical issues affecting the RB22. Providing a clear and unfiltered perspective on the car’s behavior was young French driver Isack Hadjar, who outlined the chronic problems that emerged during the early races of the season.

Debut and adaptation: integrating into the team

Hadjar began by discussing his process of settling into one of the sport’s most prestigious teams and the challenge of racing alongside his high-profile teammate. “I only have two race appearances so far, so we will evaluate the overall performance as we go,” Isack Hadjar told the press. “It’s definitely an extremely demanding experience, yet from the start I felt a strong connection with the entire working environment. Overall, my integration is progressing positively.”

Racing alongside Max Verstappen

The young Frenchman acknowledged the impressive pace and consistency of his teammate. “Of course, Max Verstappen operates at an incredible speed and impresses with his consistency on every single lap, but my primary goal is to stay in his wake and maximize the results,” Isack Hadjar explained. The comment reflects the dual challenge faced by rookie drivers joining top teams: learning the car and setup while striving to match one of the best drivers on the grid.

Analyzing the RB22’s weaknesses

Isack Hadjar also shared his thoughts on the Red Bull RB22’s handling characteristics. He described the car as “not difficult to drive” but admitted that its main flaw is its lack of outright speed. By identifying these shortcomings, Isack Hadjar aims to help the team develop solutions that will allow him to compete more closely with Verstappen and contribute to improving the car’s performance for the remainder of the season.

Isack Hadjar’s honest assessment highlights that Red Bull’s problems are deep-rooted in the car’s performance ceiling rather than its handling. Based on the content of his analysis from Suzuka, the team has a mountainous task ahead to unlock the speed necessary to put Max Verstappen back in contention with Ferrari and Mercedes.