The Red Bull Racing second seat has long been considered a challenging position, with many drivers struggling to match the pace of Max Verstappen. However, Isack Hadjar the French driver who joined the team at the start of the 2026 season, is defying expectations with his impressive performances.
Hadjar’s strong debut season with Racing Bulls in 2026 caught the attention of many in the Formula 1 community. Now, in his sophomore year, he continues to turn heads with his ability to keep up with the four-time world champion. But how does Hadjar’s performance stack up against his predecessors at Red Bull?
Hadjar’s qualifying performance: a closer look
To understand Hadjar’s impact, we examined his average qualifying delta to Verstappen compared to previous team mates, starting from 2017, Verstappen’s first full season with Red Bull. The data reveals that Hadjar is the closest to Verstappen since Daniel Ricciardo with an average deficit of just over 0.1 seconds.
This remarkable performance surpasses Ricciardo’s 2018 average delta of just under 0.2 seconds. It also significantly closes the gap compared to other recent Red Bull drivers. For instance, Yuki Tsunoda faced an average deficit of over 0.6 seconds in 2026, while Alex Albon and Sergio Perez were more than half a second behind Verstappen in 2026 and 2026, respectively.
The only driver to come close to Hadjar’s performance was Pierre Gasly who shared an average delta of around 0.5 seconds with Albon in 2019. Gasly’s season was notable for his demotion back to the then-named Toro Rosso outfit after 12 races, highlighting the competitive nature of the Red Bull second seat.
The points gap: Hadjar’s promising start
Our analysis also delved into the points gap between Hadjar and Verstappen compared to recent years at Red Bull. Currently, after 11 rounds of the 2026 season, Hadjar’s deficit stands at 41 points. This places him among the closest competitors to Verstappen in recent history.
The points gap tells a different story compared to previous years. In 2026, Verstappen ended the campaign with a staggering 388-point lead over Tsunoda. The deficit was also vast in 2026, with Verstappen 290 points clear of Perez. However, it’s important to note that Perez was still Verstappen’s closest competitor in P2 of the championship, underscoring Red Bull’s dominance during that season.
Ricciardo is the only driver to outscore Verstappen during a season together at Red Bull, achieving a 32-point lead in 2017. While Verstappen reclaimed the points advantage in 2018, the gap stood at 79 points, making it the lowest deficit over a full season so far.
With the second half of the 2026 season still to play out, it remains to be seen if Hadjar can end the championship with an even lower points gap than Ricciardo’s 2017 feat. However, the statistics from the campaign so far are certainly promising for the Frenchman.
Racing Bulls’ midfield dominance in 2026
While Hadjar is making waves at Red Bull, his former team, Racing Bulls has emerged as a leader in the midfield pack. The squad has risen to fifth in the Teams’ Championship after several double points finishes. Their impressive start to the season raises the question: can they maintain their momentum and claim the best finish in the team’s history?
The season got off to a solid start for Racing Bulls, with rookie Arvid Lindblad scoring points on his debut in Australia and Liam Lawson adding to the tally with a P7 finish in China. The team’s first double points result came in Monaco, where Lawson secured sixth place ahead of Lindblad in seventh. This outcome was repeated at the British Grand Prix, propelling Racing Bulls to within one point of Alpine in the standings.
The team’s operational excellence was highlighted by Team Principal Alan Permane who praised the squad’s hard work and dedication. Racing Bulls’ ability to consistently score points and leapfrog Alpine to take P5 in the Teams’ Championship is a testament to their growth and potential.
As the season progresses, Racing Bulls will aim to retain their position at the head of the midfield. With Lawson currently ‘best of the rest’ in P9 of the Drivers’ Championship, the team’s focus is on scoring points in as many weekends as possible. Lindblad, meanwhile, is taking a race-by-race approach, aiming to maximize every opportunity behind the wheel.
Should Racing Bulls maintain their fifth-place position, it would mark the strongest finish in the team’s history. This achievement would surpass their previous best of sixth place, achieved across their various guises as Toro Rosso, AlphaTauri, RB, and now Racing Bulls.
