Red Bull heads into the 2026 summer break in far better shape than its season once threatened. After a genuinely difficult start as the team introduced its first-ever power unit under new regulations, the squad has clawed its way back into a solid position in the Constructors’ Standings. This is thanks to a resurgent run from Max Verstappen. Moreover, it is thanks to a breakout campaign from teammate Isack Hadjar.
Eleven rounds into 2026, Red Bull sits P4 in the Constructors’ Standings with 177 points. Verstappen is P6 in the Drivers’ Standings on 109 points, just six behind seventh-placed Oscar Piastri. Meanwhile, Hadjar has established himself in P8 with a series of consistent scores. This Red Bull F1 2026 Mid-Season Review takes stock of the opening half of the season. It covers how the team and its two drivers have fared, and what still needs to change before the chequered flag falls on the 2026 campaign.
Red Bull 2026 F1 Mid-Season Review: 7/10
Red Bull’s 2026 campaign began under considerable pressure. The team simultaneously adapted to sweeping new technical regulations and introduced its first power unit as a manufacturer, built in partnership with Ford. The opening rounds were difficult, with both cars struggling for pace and reliability. At one point, Haas and Alpine threatened Red Bull in the Constructors’ Standings through the first three rounds.
The turnaround since has been significant. Red Bull has steadily closed the gap to the frontrunning teams. The team has moved up to P4 in the Constructors’ Standings with 177 points. This leaves them some way clear of the midfield battle between Racing Bulls and Alpine.
That progress was underlined at the Hungarian Grand Prix. Verstappen backed up a run of stronger results with a second-place finish there. Hadjar also brought the second car home inside the top six. Together, those results marked one of Red Bull’s strongest weekends of the season.
Reliability and car balance issues have periodically undone that progress. Rear wing problems affected the team at Austria and Silverstone. These problems cost valuable points at the British GP. Additionally, Red Bull has found itself with no further power unit development tokens to call upon for the rest of the season, after its combustion engine was assessed as the strongest on the grid. Therefore, performance gains must now come from the chassis alone.
The driver line-up has also proven to be a genuine strength this year. Where previous seasons saw uncertainty and underperformance from the second car, Hadjar has given Red Bull a stable, competitive pairing alongside Verstappen. That stability has translated directly into Constructors’ points, and it is a key reason the team has been able to recover from its slow start.
With Verstappen’s long-term future at the team still a subject of paddock speculation, and senior personnel changes continuing behind the scenes, the clearest conclusion from this Red Bull F1 2026 Mid-Season Review is that the second-half target is straightforward. The goal is to close the gap to McLaren for third in the Constructors’ Standings. Red Bull also wants to deliver the first Grand Prix win for Red Bull Powertrains.
Max Verstappen Mid-Season Review: 9/10
Even accounting for a car that has not always matched the frontrunners, Verstappen has produced a campaign that stands out for its late momentum before the Mid-Season break. It is that turnaround which underpins his 9/10 rating in Pit Debrief’s Mid-Season review.
The opening rounds were among the most difficult of Verstappen’s career at Red Bull, as reliability issues and a significant lack of car pace limited his results. However, as the RB22 improved through the middle of the season, so did Verstappen’s results. The Dutchman scored back-to-back podium finishes before the break. He also secured second place at the Hungarian Grand Prix, his joint strongest result of the campaign.
That late run has closed what was once a daunting gap in the Drivers’ Standings. Verstappen now sits sixth on 109 points. He has climbed back into podium contention on merit rather than through misfortune elsewhere. The rear wing issues that affected Red Bull at Silverstone remain the clearest blot on his season. Those problems cost him a P3.
Building momentum into the second half
Verstappen’s underlying pace has rarely been the issue through 2026; it is car performance and reliability that have periodically held him back. With Red Bull’s development gains now translating into results, the second half of the season offers a genuine opportunity for Verstappen to close in on the podium places in the Drivers’ Standings. Still, the gap to the championship leader is now unlikely to be closed.
Isack Hadjar Mid-Season Review: 8/10
Stepping into the senior Red Bull seat alongside a four-time World Champion was always going to be a significant test. Hadjar has responded with a campaign that earns him an 8/10 in Pit Debrief’s Mid-Season review. He is currently sitting P8 in the Drivers’ Standings.
After a mixed start to the year that included retirements in the opening rounds, Hadjar found consistent form as the season progressed. He strung together a run of point-scoring finishes, including a really impressive P6 at Spa from the back of the grid. That reliability has been just as valuable to Red Bull as his outright pace. Additionally, Hadjar has regularly brought the RB22 home inside the points even on weekends when the car has lacked the raw speed of the frontrunning teams, a trait that has made him increasingly difficult to overlook.
A driver Red Bull can rely on
Hadjar’ steadiness alongside Verstappen has given Red Bull something it has lacked for much of the past two seasons in particular. They now have a genuinely dependable second driver capable of contributing points on a consistent basis.
The second half of the season presents a clear opportunity for Hadjar to build further on that platform. If Red Bull can iron out the reliability issues that have periodically cost both drivers stronger results, continued consistency paired with moments of real pace could see Hadjar push higher still in the standings before the year is out.
This would round off a promising Red Bull F1 2026 season for the Frenchman. It sets him up well heading into the second half of the campaign, and could establish him as a long-term fixture alongside Verstappen for years to come.
