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Isack Hadjar expressed concerns about joining Red Bull alongside Max Verstappen, noting the challenges faced by previous drivers in that seat. He is the seventh driver to partner with Verstappen since 2016.
Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images
Isack Hadjar is the seventh driver to line up alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull since 2016, and the young Frenchman has admitted he had his concerns about taking on that role.
The seat next to Verstappen has developed a reputation over the years, with several drivers struggling to meet expectations. After Daniel Ricciardoâs departure in 2019, Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Sergio Perez, Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda all found it difficult to keep pace.
Hadjar stepped into the role after a strong rookie season with Racing Bulls. Although the team hoped new regulations would signal a fresh start, there was still plenty of talk about past issues surrounding that second seat.
Damon Hill had warned that Verstappen could overwhelm Hadjar mentally, given how others had struggled before him. It was a warning that clearly wasnât lost on the young Frenchman.
Speaking to F1âs official YouTube channel, Hadjar admitted the past struggles of Verstappenâs teammates weighed on his mind. However, he was confident in his ability to prove himself.
âOf course I did in a way because, you look at the gaps between Maxâs teammates and youâre like, âWow, this is weird,â he said about joining Red Bull.
âBut at the same time Iâm realistic. Iâm like, itâs a new regulation, we have the same car. If I believe Iâm good, Iâm good. And thatâs end of the story.â
And he wasnât wrong. Hadjar has looked much closer to Verstappen so far this season, even holding a 2-1 lead in qualifying after outpacing him in Australia and Japan.
Isack Hadjar admitted he was worried about the pressures and expectations of teaming up with Max Verstappen, given the struggles of previous drivers in that seat.
The drivers who faced challenges at Red Bull alongside Max Verstappen include Daniel Ricciardo, Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Sergio Perez, Liam Lawson, and Yuki Tsunoda.
The second seat at Red Bull Racing has a reputation for being difficult, with many drivers failing to meet the high expectations set by the team's performance and Verstappen's dominance.

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His performance in Melbourne was particularly strong, lining up third on the grid before retiring with a mechanical issue, while Verstappen crashed during qualifying. Marc Priestley said after that Red Bull âdesperatelyâ needed Hadjar.
While Verstappen has 12 points compared to Hadjarâs four, the pace difference is smaller than itâs been for years. James Hinchcliffe went as far as to say Hadjar had ended Red Bullâs âsecond car bluesâ, and the young Frenchman feels heâs right there.
âYeah, like you say, itâs a small sample,â Hadjar added. âThe car is what it is right now, very hard to drive, but all the time Iâm not too far.â
âAnd Iâm happy with how I delivered in those first three races with the car I have underneath me, gave the most of it. All in all, itâs pretty good.â
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