Isack Hadjar secured sixth place at the Hungarian Grand Prix, a result he believes was the maximum achievable for Red Bull. The Frenchman attributed his inability to challenge further up the order to the team’s performance on the medium compound tyres during the opening stint of the race.
Hadjar described his afternoon at the Hungaroring as largely solitary. He noted a decent start but observed that the leading drivers quickly pulled away after the initial laps.
The Red Bull driver specifically identified the medium tyre performance as the primary limiting factor. He stated that the team lacked the necessary pace on that compound, an area requiring further investigation.
Once Hadjar switched to the hard compound tyres, he reported a significant improvement in the car’s pace. This allowed him to achieve a level of consistency that was absent earlier in the race.
Despite missing a higher finish, Hadjar expressed satisfaction that Red Bull had maximised their potential. He acknowledged that the team’s outright pace was not competitive with McLaren and Mercedes during the weekend.
Hadjar’s strategic role involved running long during both his opening and second stints. This tactic was designed to delay several of Max Verstappen’s rivals during the pit-stop phases, providing valuable assistance for Verstappen’s podium challenge.
Verstappen ultimately finished second in the race. Red Bull opted against a late pit stop under a Virtual Safety Car, a decision that allowed him to maintain track position over competitors.
Red Bull Racing Team Principal Laurent Mekies noted that the team’s pre-race predictions had McLaren’s Lando Norris and both Ferraris out of reach. He praised the team’s ‘spicy’ strategy calls for Verstappen’s P2 finish.
The team struggled with the overall car feeling throughout the Budapest weekend. Both Verstappen and Hadjar reported issues with gear shifts, balance, and power unit deployment.
Mekies acknowledged that Red Bull has been ‘on the edge of car balance’ in recent races. He highlighted the challenge of keeping the RB22 within its optimal operating window.
This season has seen Red Bull face ongoing challenges with the RB22. Early in the year, the car exhibited significant tyre degradation, deployment concerns, and rear-end instability.
The RB22 has been described as ‘horribly inconsistent’ and a ‘tyre destroyer’ in earlier races. This indicates a fundamental issue with the car’s mechanical platform and aerodynamic package.
Hadjar’s sixth-place finish at the Hungaroring extended an impressive run of consistency. He has now secured a top-six result in each of the last seven Grands Prix.
This consistent performance places Hadjar eighth in the Drivers’ Championship standings with 68 points. He has already surpassed his 2025 rookie season points tally of 51.
Hadjar has demonstrated growing confidence in the RB22, stating he has been extracting its full potential. He has finished ahead of Verstappen on three occasions this season.
The 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix was won by Lando Norris for McLaren, marking his first victory of the season. Kimi Antonelli completed the podium for Mercedes.
Oscar Piastri, Norris’s teammate, led for a significant portion of the race. However, contact with Carlos Sainz and a subsequent gearbox failure forced his retirement.
Lewis Hamilton received a five-second penalty for speeding in the pit lane, dropping his Ferrari to fifth place. George Russell recovered to seventh after an anti-stall issue at the start.
