Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar sets ambitious 2026 F1 goals: “The first victory is in my sights”. Isack Hadjar sets ambitious targets for his first season at Red Bull in 2026.

Isack Hadjar has set ambitious targets for his first season with Red Bull, determined to prove he can avoid becoming the latest victim of the team’s “second seat curse” alongside Max Verstappen. The last to experience this was Liam Lawson, who was moved to Racing Bulls to make room for Yuki Tsunoda. Tsunoda, in turn, struggled in direct comparison with Verstappen and is now without a seat on the grid. In 2026, it will be the French driver’s turn to face the biggest challenge: going head-to-head with Max Verstappen as his teammate.

When asked by Motorsport Week whether he had specific goals for 2026 or intended to adopt a race-by-race approach, Isack Hadjar responded decisively, setting the tone for how he plans to approach his first season alongside Verstappen.

“I think, obviously, the first win is in the sights. That would be fantastic,” he stated. “I would like to see our car progress faster than the other teams; I think that would be very nice.”

Discussing the driving style required for the 2026 cars, including the increased use of first gear in corners, Isack Hadjar shared his perspective without exaggerating the negatives, in contrast to Max Verstappen’s more critical comments. “Fluid,” said Isack Hadjar, describing the sensation of having to downshift extra times during a lap.

Regarding the extensive use of first gear in corners, he added: “Actually, I’ve never spent so much time in my life using first gear, so it’s even fun. You adapt naturally; it’s not a big problem.”

Isack Hadjar’s optimistic stance provides a refreshing contrast to the technical grumbling that has characterized much of the 2026 pre-season. By focusing on the “fun” of adapting to a new driving style rather than the limitations of the power unit, he may be positioning himself to handle the psychological pressure of the Red Bull garage better than his predecessors. If he can translate this adaptability into the “first victory” he already has in his sights, the 2026 reset might finally be the moment Red Bull finds a stable long-term partner for Verstappen.