Isack Hadjar provided an assessment of Red Bull Racing’s performance relative to Ferrari during the first day of practice at the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix. His comments highlighted the challenges Red Bull faces in matching Ferrari’s pace, particularly in qualifying, while also noting some positive aspects in race conditions.
In the opening practice session (FP1), Hadjar recorded the fourth fastest time, trailing Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by 0.922 seconds. However, the second session (FP2) proved more difficult, with windier conditions impacting lap times and causing Hadjar to drop to sixth place. Meanwhile, Ferrari’s drivers improved their performance, reinforcing their status as the team to beat at the Hungaroring.
Hadjar described FP2 as “very tricky” and acknowledged Ferrari’s stronger one-lap pace and overall performance advantage. While Red Bull’s long-run pace appeared decent, their qualifying speed was noticeably behind Ferrari’s. He also anticipated a close battle with McLaren and expected Mercedes to show improvement as the weekend progressed.
Red Bull Technical Director Pierre Wache confirmed that the team’s performance was below expectations on the first day. He cited issues with low grip and the bumps on the Hungaroring track as factors affecting the car’s balance. These challenges contributed to Red Bull’s difficulty in matching Ferrari’s pace, especially over a single lap.
Ferrari’s advantage in qualifying pace was clear, making them the benchmark for other teams at this venue. Red Bull’s relative strength in race conditions, particularly over longer stints, suggests that the team may still have opportunities to improve their overall weekend performance. Meanwhile, competition from McLaren and an expected uptick from Mercedes add further complexity to the field.
Hadjar’s evaluation reflects the situation after the initial practice sessions, emphasizing the current gap between Red Bull and Ferrari without suggesting definitive outcomes for the rest of the weekend. The comments underline the ongoing technical and setup challenges Red Bull faces at the Hungaroring, while also recognizing the strong showing from Ferrari and the competitive nature of the midfield battle.
