Isack Hadjar insists gap to Max Verstappen isn't as big as F1 Miami GP qualifying suggests

TL;DR

Isack Hadjar claims the qualifying gap to teammate Max Verstappen at the F1 Miami GP doesn't reflect true performance, despite finishing ninth and being 0.825s behind. Hadjar suggests other factors contributed to the time difference.

Key points

Isack Hadjar qualified ninth at the F1 Miami GP.
Hadjar was 0.825s behind Max Verstappen.
Verstappen qualified second, 0.166s behind polesitter Kimi Antonelli.
Hadjar believes the gap doesn't reflect true performance.
Hadjar was disqualified for a technical infringement.

Isack HadjarMax VerstappenRed BullMercedes

Motorsport photo

Isack Hadjar believes the gap to his Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen in qualifying for the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix doesn’t represent the actual performance deficit.

Hadjar qualified a disappointing ninth and was 0.825s behind the four-time world champion, who took second with an additional 0.166s to Mercedes polesitter Kimi Antonelli.

But Hadjar, who was disqualified over a technical infringement, believes the eight tenths difference isn’t down to just pure pace.

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Isack Hadjar officially disqualified from F1 Miami GP qualifying

That is particularly because across the opening three rounds of 2026, there was never more than five tenths between the newly paired team-mates in a qualifying session.

New Red Bull signing Hadjar is simply struggling with the low-grip nature of Miami, having also finished 0.961s behind the Dutchman in qualifying for Saturday’s sprint race.