Hadjar issues blunt verdict over deeply upgraded RB22: 'Not good'

The Frenchman had voiced strong concerns on Friday about unusual engine behaviour through Turn 3. Speaking with GPBlog after qualifying, Hadjar admitted the issue had improved compared to the previous day, but stressed it was still far from being fully resolved. He added that his main concern had now shifted to the brakes, while also expressing dissatisfaction with the way the deployment and straight-line performance had been optimised for qualifying.

Hadjar went on to explain that he had been unable to brake in his usual aggressive style throughout the weekend, something that had compromised the entire corner entry and prevented him from driving the way he normally does. He admitted he had encountered more problems this season than he could remember, while also acknowledging that, despite those difficulties, the team had somehow remained competitive.

Finally, when asked about his impressions of the new upgrades, the Frenchman gave a brief but telling response, admitting they had not delivered the desired feeling and that he simply did not feel fast: "Not good. I'm not fast."

Verstappen reflected on the crash that brought his Austrian Grand Prix qualifying to an abrupt end, explaining that the car suddenly became uncontrollable the moment he turned into Turn 9. The Dutchman stressed that he had not changed anything on the car and believed there was still some margin left to push, as drivers naturally try to extract a little more performance without overstepping the limit.

However, he said the rear stepped out immediately upon turn-in, leaving him with no opportunity to recover the car. While oversteer can normally be caught, Verstappen admitted this particular snap was impossible to control, ultimately ending his bid for pole position.