Hadjar stands out as Tsunoda raises concerns about the 2026 gap.

      "It’s a very challenging task, but..."

      Isack Hadjar is beginning to demonstrate that he might be the first teammate in years to reliably assist Max Verstappen at Red Bull. Following difficulties faced by drivers like Sergio Perez and Yuki Tsunoda in past seasons, Red Bull seems to have finally identified a stronger second car presence.

      "It’s a very tough challenge, but I feel at home," Hadjar remarked to RTBF at 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 very quickly—it honestly felt as if I hadn’t switched teams at all."

      Team principal Laurent Mekies commended the French driver's immediate influence, especially highlighting his notable qualifying performance in Australia. "He had an almost flawless first weekend," Mekies said. "Trust me, there was ample pressure on him to achieve this, but he rose to the occasion and qualified the car in third."

      Verstappen himself acknowledges the team's long-standing need for such support. "When I faced challenges in qualifying, the fact that he (Hadjar) topped the timesheets is precisely what our team requires," he stated. "I hope we can maintain this momentum."

      However, both drivers concur that the overriding issue is the car, as Red Bull is struggling with outright speed in 2026. "Performance-wise, it’s not very different from what I encountered at Racing Bulls," Hadjar chuckled. "The car isn't particularly hard to drive, but we are simply lacking speed."

      He mentioned that the upcoming break in April could be pivotal. "Having a break in April isn’t so bad; we can focus on enhancing the car. It might benefit us more than the other teams."

      Meanwhile, Tsunoda—now serving as Red Bull’s reserve—suggested that the new 2026 regulations might naturally narrow the gap between teammates. "I thought it would be challenging to create a significant disparity between myself and my teammate," he said after testing the car in the simulator. "Energy is a crucial factor in this year’s F1—although you might be slower in the corners, it's even more critical to recover that time on the straights."

      "It’s a different car compared to what we had until 2025. I feel like we’re in a new category altogether."