Hadjar on Verstappen rivalry: 'No time to be lazy' at Red Bull

Isack Hadjar says Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen is an open book when asked for advice, but the Frenchman admits that matching the four-time world champion's relentless pace leaves absolutely no margin for complacency. In his sophomore season with the Milton Keynes squad, Hadjar has already shown more promise than recent predecessors by outqualifying Verstappen twice and finishing within 0.12 seconds on four other occasions.

Why it matters:

Red Bull's second seat has become a notorious career trap, with Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda both failing to match Verstappen's benchmark in 2025. Hadjar's early competitiveness suggests Red Bull may finally have found a stable supporting act, which is critical for the team's development and Constructors' Championship hopes as the 2026 regulations era continues to take shape.

The details:

• Hadjar revealed that while Verstappen never seeks advice from him, the Dutchman is "very open, very kind" and doesn't hide information when asked. "He doesn't hide anything because he knows he's strong," Hadjar explained.
• The challenge of working alongside Verstappen means "no time to be lazy." Hadjar said every lap the four-time champion sets forces him to "dig very deep" just to get close.
• By the numbers: Hadjar has outqualified Verstappen twice already this season and lapped within 0.12s on four additional occasions — a stark contrast to the one-sided teammate battles Red Bull endured in recent years.
• That intensity has come with errors. Hadjar crashed out in Miami and hit the wall during Monaco free practice, incidents he attributes to the relentless pressure of extracting maximum performance.
• Addressing his mistakes, Hadjar maintained a long-term perspective: "I'm young, it's my second year, I make the mistakes now. When I have a car to be world champion, I don't make the mistakes."

What's next:

Hadjar's immediate focus remains on raw performance rather than championship standings. Comparing himself directly to "the best on the grid," he appears determined to iron out his errors while maintaining the aggressive pace that has already put him closer to Verstappen than many expected. With Red Bull reportedly preparing a major upgrade for the upcoming Austrian Grand Prix, Hadjar will have a fresh opportunity to prove he can translate that speed into consistent results.