Isack Hadjar has challenged the idea that Red Bull now has Formula 1’s fastest car. Ahead of the United States Grand Prix, the Frenchman argued that Max Verstappen’s victories do not tell the full story of the competitive order.

His main example was Singapore. Hadjar believes Ferrari had the better car at Marina Bay and that Verstappen would have won by a bigger margin in it. That is the Red Bull driver’s assessment, one Charles Leclerc subsequently rejected.

Hadjar highlighted qualifying as decisive. Verstappen secured pole by around half a tenth and put himself in control of the race. The Frenchman also pointed to differences in the available tyres, which he believes must be considered when comparing performance.

His own weekend was very different. Technical problems prevented him from taking part in Sprint Qualifying, while power-unit changes left him starting Sunday’s Grand Prix from the pit lane. He recovered to tenth.

In Austin, Hadjar primarily wants a clean weekend. He acknowledges Red Bull’s progress but insists the car remains difficult to drive and still has weaknesses.

Oscar Piastri offered a different perspective, suggesting Red Bull’s upgrades have made it the most consistently quick team in recent weeks. The debate gives Friday’s running in Texas an extra edge. Wins build confidence, but a different circuit demands fresh evidence of performance. For Hadjar, reliability is the first requirement for taking part in that comparison.

Source: Formula1.com