Hadjar Struggles as Red Bull Battles Balance Issues in Austin

Red Bull arrived in Austin with strong momentum, but Friday's sessions at the Circuit of the Americas exposed a critical vulnerability: the RB22 is proving temperamental to set up. While Max Verstappen remains a constant threat at the front, rookie Isack Hadjar's struggle highlights how easily the car can fall out of its performance window.

Why it matters:

COTA's unique layout—mixing high-speed sweeps with tight, bumpy sections—acts as a litmus test for chassis balance. For Red Bull, the inability to find a universal setup for both drivers suggests the RB22 may be more sensitive to track irregularities than previously thought, potentially opening the door for rivals like Ferrari.

The details:

• Verstappen's Consistency: The Dutchman secured second in FP1 and third in FP2, though he trailed Charles Leclerc in both. He noted that while the start is positive, the bumps make finding a compromise between corner speeds difficult.
• Hadjar's Downturn: After a manageable FP1, Hadjar's car became "completely gone" in FP2 following setup changes. He finished ninth, roughly a second off the pace, with the car becoming nearly undriveable on soft tires.
• Technical Admission: Technical Director Pierre Wache admitted the team underestimated the difficulty of rebalancing the car for COTA's specific bumps, emphasizing that the priority must now shift toward race degradation over one-lap peaky performance.

What's next:

Red Bull faces a race against time before qualifying to stabilize Hadjar's car. The team must revert his setup to Friday morning's levels while ensuring Verstappen's balance holds up for a full race distance. If they can solve the "bump" issue, the RB22 remains a favorite; otherwise, they may be fighting for podiums rather than the win.