Hadjar Baffled by Pace Deficit to Verstappen in Miami

Red Bull rookie Isack Hadjar expressed frustration and confusion after finishing nearly a second behind teammate Max Verstappen in Miami Sprint Qualifying, a performance gap he says he "doesn't understand." In contrast, Verstappen hailed the team's recent upgrades as a "really positive step" that has significantly closed their gap to the front-running Mercedes team.

Why it matters:

Hadjar's struggle to comprehend his lack of pace against Verstappen is a familiar narrative at Red Bull, echoing the challenges faced by previous teammates like Sergio Perez and Alex Albon. For a promising rookie, this early-season confusion could impact confidence and development, while Verstappen's optimism suggests Red Bull may finally be unlocking more performance from their 2026 car after a difficult start.

The details:

• A Significant Gap: Hadjar qualified P9 in the Sprint Qualifying session, a full 0.959 seconds behind Verstappen, who secured P4. This followed a similar 1.3-second deficit in the sole practice session earlier in the day.
• Hadjar's Frustration: The French driver admitted he is not enjoying the car's handling and feels the latest developments are not a "big step forward" for him personally, despite Verstappen's strong result.
• Verstappen's Contrasting View: The four-time champion reported the updated RB22 feels "more together" and trustworthy, allowing him to extract more lap time. He estimated the team has nearly halved their performance deficit to Mercedes compared to previous races.
• Historical Context: The article notes that struggling to match Verstappen's pace is a common theme for his teammates, placing Hadjar's early difficulties into a well-established team dynamic.

What's next:

The immediate focus shifts to the Miami Sprint and Grand Prix, where Hadjar will seek to translate his qualifying confusion into a clearer understanding and improved race pace. Verstappen, buoyed by the car's progress, will aim to convert his stronger qualifying position into a podium challenge, testing the true extent of Red Bull's claimed performance gain against Mercedes and Ferrari. The weekend will serve as a critical data point for both drivers' early-season trajectories.