Isack Hadjar demonstrated notable progress during the 2026 British Grand Prix weekend at Silverstone, showing his growing capabilities within Oracle Red Bull Racing. Despite facing challenges during the race, his performance underlined his ongoing development as a Formula 1® driver and his ability to learn from teammate Max Verstappen.
Hadjar secured a strong qualifying result by placing fifth on the grid, notably ahead of Verstappen, who encountered difficulties with car balance and power unit performance. During the race, Hadjar initially maintained his position but suffered front wing damage that impacted his pace. This issue required a second pit stop that lasted around eight seconds to replace the damaged wing, which ultimately affected his final race outcome.
Once the front wing was replaced, Hadjar’s lap times improved significantly, with gains of nearly two seconds per lap. However, the earlier time lost due to the damage and extended pit stop prevented him from mounting a stronger challenge for a podium finish. Hadjar expressed frustration over the missed opportunity, especially as the race did not restart after a Safety Car period triggered by Verstappen’s crash.
Red Bull Team Principal Laurent Mekies highlighted Hadjar’s steady progress and his capacity to absorb lessons from Verstappen’s experience. Mekies noted that while both drivers reported similar issues with car balance, their descriptions differed due to their varying levels of experience. Verstappen tends to project the car’s potential more clearly, whereas Hadjar is still in the process of learning how to interpret and communicate these nuances.
Hadjar also enjoyed the close racing with Verstappen, which has been a motivating factor for him. He remains determined to improve his results beyond consistent fourth or fifth-place finishes, aiming to challenge more regularly at the front of the field. His performance at Silverstone reflects a driver gaining valuable experience and adapting to the demands of the sport at the highest level.
The British Grand Prix weekend underlined the contrasting situations within Oracle Red Bull Racing, with Verstappen facing setbacks while Hadjar continued to build on his development. Mekies’ comments suggest the team values Hadjar’s growth trajectory and sees his learning curve as an important part of the squad’s future.
Hadjar’s race at Silverstone showed both the challenges and potential of a young driver progressing in Formula 1®. The experience gained from racing alongside a multiple world champion like Verstappen is proving beneficial, as Hadjar refines his skills and racecraft. This development is a key aspect of Red Bull’s driver programme as they balance nurturing talent with competing at the sharp end of the championship.
