Hadjar excels while Tsunoda raises concerns about the 2026 gap.

      "It’s a significant challenge, but..."

      Isack Hadjar is already demonstrating potential to be the first teammate in several years to reliably support Max Verstappen at Red Bull. Following inconsistent performances from drivers such as Sergio Perez and Yuki Tsunoda in recent seasons, Red Bull seems to have finally found a second car that is more competitive. "It’s a very tough challenge, but at the same time, I feel at home," Hadjar shared with RTBF in Suzuka. "Max is incredibly fast and impressive, performing well on every lap, but I’m doing my best to keep pace. I adjusted to the team rather quickly; I honestly didn’t feel like I changed teams."

      Team principal Laurent Mekies lauded the French driver's immediate effect, especially highlighting his exceptional qualifying performance in Australia. "He had an almost flawless first weekend," Mekies remarked. "Believe me, there was considerable pressure on him that made this achievement challenging, but he delivered, securing third position."

      Verstappen acknowledges that the team has been missing that level of support for a while. "When I faced difficulties in qualifying, Hadjar being at the top of the time sheets is exactly what we need as a team," he stated. "I hope we can maintain this momentum."

      Nevertheless, both drivers concur that the bigger challenge lies with the car itself, as Red Bull is struggling with overall speed in 2026. "In terms of performance, it’s not drastically different from what I experienced at Racing Bulls," Hadjar joked. "The car isn’t especially hard to drive, but we’re just too slow."

      He mentioned that the upcoming April break could be critical. "Having a break in April isn’t too bad; it allows us to focus on enhancing the car. It might benefit us more than the other teams."

      Meanwhile, Tsunoda, now serving as Red Bull’s reserve, noted that the new 2026 regulations may have naturally narrowed the gap between teammates. "I felt it would be tough to create a significant disparity between myself and my teammate," he said after simulating the car. "Energy plays a crucial role in this year’s F1 – even if you’re slower in the corners, it’s more important to compensate for that delay on the straights."

      "It’s a different car than the ones we had until 2025. I feel like we’re in a different category than we were before."