FORMULA 1 F1 CALENDAR 2026 LEWIS HAMILTON MOTOGP RUMOURS

Hadjar laments Verstappen crash: 'I want to compare myself with the best'

Photo: Race Pictures

14:50, 07 Mar

byHenry Eccles

Isack Hadjar has said it was a "shame" that Max Verstappen could not compete with him in qualifying, after a dramatic spin into the barriers left the Dutchman without a representative lap time in Melbourne.

The young Frenchman, promoted this season from sister team Racing Bulls, stepped up in Verstappen's absence, putting the RB22 on the second row for Sunday's race thanks to his P3 behind the two Mercedes drivers.

It is well known by now that taking on Verstappen at Red Bull is no easy task, just ask Sergio Perez or Alex Albon, but Hadjar portrays a cool, confident figure as the 2026 regulations perhaps give him a 'clean slate' to battle the four-time world champion.

Verstappen crash a 'shame,' Hadjar is here to compete

Photo: Race Pictures

In the post-qualifying press conference, Hadjar happily reported on a Saturday without any major drama compared to his teammate.

"“Honestly, it was a very chill session. There was no drama for me. Also, it’s the first time, I think, in my small F1 career that lap after lap I found lap time, even on used tyres. So I was just building up to it.

"We did a very good job being consistent with the energy deployment management through the lap, so that was very consistent compared to yesterday, which was quite bad.

"It’s the first time in my career it’s that easy to put a car in the top ten, so then it makes the whole process a lot easier. You build up to it the way you want, you can allow yourself some mistakes. So yeah, in terms of pressure it wasn’t very high and that was good.”

The 21-year-old was then asked whether he felt any extra pressure given Verstappen's Q1 exit, with the Red Bull debutant choosing to focus on the "shame" of his teammate's absence, also admitting he may not have finished P3 had the Dutchman carried on.

"Actually, no. I might be P3, but if Max was actually running the whole session then I don’t know if I would be here. So that’s a shame. I want to compare myself with the best and today that didn’t happen, so we’ll do that next time in China."

Hadjar also continued to stay realistic when asked on whether he can compete with the dominant Mercedes duo, with George Russell taking pole eight tenths ahead of the former Racing Bulls youngster.

"No. And I think after Turn 1, if we keep our position then we have a good race, I think. But yeah, we simply don’t have the pace to win."

Verstappen left 'emotionally empty' by 2026 F1 cars

Not only was Verstappen's day ruined by his Q1 crash, he also laid into the new 2026 cars yet again, saying he experienced problems during qualifying he has never had "in my whole life.”

Verstappen said: "I’m not enjoying it at all. But as I said, I don’t care where I qualify. Whether that was at the front or where I am now. In terms of emotion and feeling, it’s completely empty.”