Palmer says there’s no good time to be Verstappen’s teammate

Jolyon Palmer, former F1 driver turned pundit, has reversed his earlier praise for Isack Hadjar’s Red Bull promotion, saying there’s no perfect moment to sit beside Max Verstappen. After nine days of pre‑season testing, Hadjar’s pace and reliability woes raise doubts about his fit in the RB22.

Why it matters:

• Verstappen’s dominance makes the choice of teammate crucial for Red Bull’s championship strategy.
• The 2026 regulation overhaul levels the field, so a mis‑fit could cost valuable points.
• Hadjar’s rookie podium raised expectations that may be hard to meet now.

The details:

• In Bahrain testing Verstappen logged 546 laps, best 1:33.109; Hadjar completed about 327 laps, best 1:34.260, over a second slower.
• Hadjar crashed in wet conditions at Barcelona’s private test, exposing difficulty with the RB22’s lively rear end.
• Red Bull’s reliability gremlins hit Hadjar hard, cutting his track time.

What's next:

• Red Bull will confirm its 2026 driver line‑up at the Albert Park season‑opening race; Hadjar’s role remains uncertain.
• A quick adaptation could still see him grow into the seat, but early data suggests a steep learning curve.
• Verstappen’s comfort with the car may give Red Bull an edge, regardless of who joins him.