Isack Hadjar out-performed teammate Max Verstappen during Qualifying at the 2026 F1 Japanese GP. While Verstappen got knocked out during Q2 by rookie Arvid Lindblad, Hadjar made it through to Q3. The Frenchman will line up P8 on the grid.
Speaking in the print media pen, Hadjar discussed the car’s performance amidst bringing new upgrades to Japan.
Hadjar on Red Bull Racing car’s performance: “It was very hard to drive”
The Red Bull Racing driver expressed frustration with the car’s performance.
“It was very hard to drive, and I did my best. Honestly, I think everything was not perfect, but very high level. I just messed up my final attempt, which is a shame.
“We saved two Q3 tyres, and we only used the first one.“
When asked what position he’d expected to achieve during qualifying, Hadjar responded, “Just P7, but it’s just my own satisfaction to know that I did everything I could. But I guess we never know how good the lap would have been, but it was very good.”
Hadjar on unpredictability of car during 2026 F1 Japanese GP Qualifying
Unfortunately for Red Bull Racing, both drivers appear to be perplexed by the car’s performance. Isack Hadjar emphasised the car’s unpredictability, stating that the RB22 felt significantly different from FP3.
Despite the setbacks, Hadjar commended the team for working around the issues during Qualifying at the 2026 F1 Japanese GP.
“It changed massively compared to FP3. On my first lap, I thought I was going to crash straight away. It was just sliding everywhere, I was barely turning the steering wheel.
“We just had to work around what we had and make it better through the session. And we did a good job.“
Comparing to last year’s performance
Last season, Verstappen took pole position at the Japanese GP. He subsequently won the race ahead of both McLarens. After Qualifying at the 2026 F1 Japanese GP, Hadjar expressed that the car is both slow and difficult to drive.
“It’s a big stretch to compare last year’s car to this one. It’s completely new. I think last year’s car [RB21] was fast — it was hard to drive, but fast. Our car [RB22] is hard to drive and slow, so we need more efficiency.”
Hadjar alluded to the unpredictability of Red Bull’s car this season: “Lap by lap, session by session, you always have to guess what you’re going to get. So it’s not nice to build up.”
When asked if the team has a clear direction for improving the car’s performance, Hadjar responded: “No, not right now. What we are seeing this weekend makes no sense.“
Hadjar agreed with Verstappen’s comments about the RB22’s performance, stating the car quickly shifts between oversteer and understeer.
“We’ve got no load. That’s it. It goes into one direction or the other very quickly. Like I said, FP3 was the opposite balance. We go into [qualifying], it’s the other thing around.
“You have no idea. You have to reset your expectations all the time. It’s not nice.”
