Isack Hadjar is not “surprised” by how he has performed in F1 this season, but he can see one area in which Max Verstappen still holds an advantage.
Isack Hadjar has highlighted that Max Verstappen’s race management is on a “different level” to his, which is currently the key focus for the Frenchman.
The 21-year-old is enjoying a strong first season with Red Bull, his second in F1 after his promotion from Racing Bulls at the end of the previous campaign.
Eleven rounds into the year, Hadjar has scored XXX points, XXX behind his team-mate, in what is a considerably better-matched
driver line-up than the Milton Keynes-based squad has experienced in recent history.
After Sergio Perez’s decline in the team’s second season, which is considered the most difficult and unforgiving drive in F1, neither Liam Lawson nor Yuki Tsunoda could make the grade.
Hadjar, who has admitted to having doubts about his ability to break the trend at the six-time constructors’ champion, maintains he is not shocked by his level of performance in the RB22.
“I actually haven’t surprised myself this year, to be honest,” Hadjar told media, including RacingNews365. “I’ve just been driving at a high level, definitely better than last year.
“That’s normal because it’s my second season, so I’m not very experienced, but I’m improving a bit.”
In previous generations of F1 cars, the Red Bull has gradually been developed in the image of Verstappen and the extreme preferences the Dutchman has.
However, so far in the new era, Hadjar has fared considerably more favourably alongside the four-time F1 drivers’ champion than those who came before.
But whilst happy with his one-lap performance, he is keen to improve on his long-run form, and how he navigates a grand prix, which is where he feels Verstappen still has the upper hand.
“I would say Max has been very impressive on Sundays, all around,” the one-time podium finisher added.
“I think my one-lap pace has been pretty good, but how well he is managing the races is on a different level, so that’s what I’m focusing on working on.”