Isack Hadjar finished third at the 2026 Sao Paulo Grand Prix, a result Red Bull Racing Team Principal Laurent Mekies has described as the Frenchman’s strongest performance with the team to date. The race, held at the Interlagos Circuit last Sunday, saw Hadjar secure his third podium finish of the current Formula 1 season.
Lando Norris of McLaren won the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, with Max Verstappen taking second place after starting 21st on the grid due to an engine change penalty. Hadjar, who started the race from fifth position, advanced to second place during the event.
On lap 38, Red Bull instructed Hadjar to allow Verstappen to pass, enabling the Dutchman to pursue Norris for the lead. Verstappen subsequently pulled away from Hadjar but was unable to close the gap to Norris.
Mekies commented on Hadjar’s drive, stating it was his best race for Red Bull.
Ultimately, if you ask me right now, I think it’s the best race he has done with us. In terms of pure pace. I think he has raised the bar all the time. So that’s what we want to keep seeing.
Hadjar’s performance contributed to Red Bull scoring 33 points at Interlagos. The 22-year-old driver is currently eighth in the 2026 Drivers’ Championship with 122 points.
The 2026 Sao Paulo Grand Prix marked Hadjar’s 40th Formula 1 Grand Prix start. He joined Red Bull Racing at the start of the 2026 season, replacing Yuki Tsunoda alongside Verstappen, following a debut season in 2025 with Racing Bulls.
Hadjar’s 2026 season has included two retirements: an engine issue in Melbourne and a crash in Miami. He also missed three Grands Prix after the summer break due to a wrist injury, specifically at Zandvoort, Monza, and Madrid.
Despite these setbacks, Hadjar has consistently scored points in all races he has finished, with the exception of Suzuka. His podium finishes this season include Monaco and Azerbaijan, in addition to Sao Paulo.
Red Bull recently confirmed a contract extension for Hadjar, securing his position with the team for the 2027 season. This announcement followed a long-term contract extension for Laurent Mekies, who will remain Red Bull’s CEO and Team Principal through 2031.
Mekies was promoted to CEO and Team Principal of Red Bull Racing in July 2025, having previously served as Team Principal for Racing Bulls. His extended contract aims to ensure stability within the team’s leadership.
The Sao Paulo Grand Prix also saw Mercedes secure the 2026 Constructors’ Championship, with George Russell and Kimi Antonelli finishing fourth and fifth respectively. Other race incidents included a five-second penalty for Charles Leclerc for pushing Liam Lawson wide, and similar penalties for Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman for unsafe pit releases.
The race conditions at Interlagos were variable, starting on a wet track with intermediate tyres before transitioning to slicks. Rain returned in the closing stages, necessitating a switch back to intermediate tyres.
The top ten finishers at the 2026 Sao Paulo Grand Prix were: Lando Norris (McLaren), Max Verstappen (Red Bull), Isack Hadjar (Red Bull), George Russell (Mercedes), Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes), Oscar Piastri (McLaren), Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls), Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari), and Nico Hulkenberg (Audi).
