Isack Hadjar Labels Malaysia Race a "Disaster" Despite Red Bull's Historic PU Win

Red Bull has achieved a landmark milestone with the first victory for its in-house power unit, but the celebration is bittersweet for Isack Hadjar. Despite a strong weekend showing, the French driver saw a potential podium slip away in the closing stages of the race in Malaysia, finishing a frustrating fifth.

Why it matters:

Red Bull's transition to a full works team is now officially validated by a win, signaling a new era of technical independence. However, Hadjar's struggle highlights the volatility of the new 2026 technical package. For a driver fighting to solidify his position in the championship, losing a podium to veterans like Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc is a significant psychological and points-based setback.

The Details:

• Race Progression: Hadjar maintained a strong pace early on, clearing Liam Lawson to secure fourth before being promoted to third following George Russell's retirement.
• The Collapse: During a late safety car restart with only three laps remaining, Hadjar suffered a sudden battery deployment issue, leaving him defenseless on the straights.
• The Overtakes: Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc capitalized on the power deficit, slicing past the RB22 to relegate Hadjar to fifth place.
• Technical Grievances: Hadjar described the car as "horrible to drive" in the final laps, noting a severe lack of grip even while behind the safety car, which made the restart nearly impossible to manage.

The Big Picture:

The 2026 season is defined by the radical shift in power unit regulations. While Max Verstappen's victory proves the Red Bull PU is a frontrunner, the discrepancy in Hadjar's race experience suggests that chassis integration and energy management are not yet optimized across the entire garage. The gap between the lead car and the secondary RB22 indicates a sensitivity to setup that the team must address to ensure consistent double-podium threats.

What's next:

Hadjar now looks toward the Singapore Grand Prix to resolve these chassis-side issues. The team will be analyzing telemetry from the Malaysia restart to understand why the battery failed to stabilize in time to defend his position, aiming to reclaim the pace Hadjar displayed throughout the weekend.