Isack Hadjar admits Red Bull consistency issues despite strong reliability in Australia Isack Hadjar, the Red Bull Racing driver, acknowledged the team’s strong reliability during the Australian Grand Prix preparations but highlighted challenges with consistency during the second practice session. The French-Algerian driver recorded the fourth-fastest time in the first practice session, finishing behind his teammate Max Verstappen, who secured the third-fastest time. In the second practice session, Hadjar managed ninth place, while Verstappen improved to sixth. Hadjar explained that while the team’s reliability was solid, the second session posed difficulties due to inconsistent performance and energy deployment strategies. “Reliability has been good, but in terms of consistency, every lap in FP2 has been quite difficult, in terms of deployment and everything,” he said. He emphasized that adapting to the new 2026 regulations, which introduce a near 50:50 split between internal combustion and electric power, added complexity. The driver noted that the Albert Park circuit’s unique demands made it challenging to maintain consistent performance. “We are [trying different things], and it's also constantly having to adapt your braking points, because you're never arriving at the same speed. The dynamic of the car changes as well, so it's very tricky,” he added. Hadjar joined Red Bull in 2026 after a standout rookie season with Racing Bulls, the team’s sister outfit. His move to the main team followed a history of struggles in finding a long-term second driver for Verstappen. Previous attempts, such as Liam Lawson’s brief tenure and Yuki Tsunoda’s eventual shift to reserve status, underscored the challenges. Hadjar now faces the pressure of stepping into a role that has proven difficult for past contenders.#max_verstappen #albert_park #red_bull_racing #isack_hadjar #2026_formula_1
