Hadjar closes gap to Verstappen in Canada, but Red Bull bouncing persists

Isack Hadjar believes his shrinking gap to Max Verstappen in Sprint Qualifying at the Canadian Grand Prix is "reassuring" after he placed eighth, just 0.101s behind his teammate. The result marks the closest margin between the two Red Bull drivers so far in the 2026 season, following gaps of 0.469s in China and a massive 0.961s in Miami.

Why it matters:

• For a rookie like Hadjar, closing the deficit to a four-time world champion on a difficult track suggests rapid adaptation and growing confidence in a notoriously tricky car. However, the persistent bouncing issue that plagues both drivers highlights a fundamental weakness Red Bull has yet to solve, potentially costing them time against frontrunners Mercedes and Ferrari.

The details:

• Hadjar admitted he had a slow build-up in FP1, failing to set a time on soft tires, and only found his rhythm in SQ3.
• The Frenchman noted the track state is poor and both drivers are "struggling massively with the bouncing," which prevents them from using available grip.
• Close competition: Verstappen’s advantage has shrunk from nearly a second in Miami to a tenth in Montreal, indicating Hadjar is learning quickly.
• Red Bull’s woe: The RB22’s porpoising issue appears consistent across circuits, and neither driver has a good feeling in the car. This could become a major concern as the season progresses towards higher-speed tracks like Silverstone.

What’s next:

• The Sprint race later Saturday will be a crucial test for both drivers to see if they can translate qualifying momentum into points. If Hadjar can beat Verstappen in the race, it would be a landmark moment. But more importantly, Red Bull must find a fix for the bouncing to remain competitive in the constructors' championship.