Source:NURPHOTO/Nicolas Economou
[Saba Sports News] With the new technical regulations coming into play for the 2026 F1 season, Isack Hadjar is set to face the most significant challenge of his career as he becomes Max Verstappen’s new teammate at Red Bull Racing. Rather than shying away from the pressure of partnering with a four-time F1 world champion, Hadjar has set himself a clear goal: to match Verstappen’s pace in this new era.
Hadjar stated that the 2026 car will be completely different from the current models, with the team developing an entirely new machine—not an upgraded version of the old car, but a fresh start from scratch. Both he and Verstappen will need to readjust. Hadjar sees this as the ideal situation: when the direction of car development changes, he will be able to clearly sense it and provide feedback to the team, participating in the performance enhancement process.
He pointed out that throughout his racing career, he has driven a different car almost every season, making adapting to new environments a norm. This gives him confidence in his learning ability and adjustment speed. In my view, the new regulations mean smaller and lighter cars, along with a new power system that utilizes both electric power and sustainable fuel, equally. This major transformation diminishes the advantages of past experiences, placing all drivers on an equal starting line under the new rules.