Source: Official Team Post via X
Isack Hadjar Calls for Red Bull Inquiry Over 'Undriveable' RB22 at US Grand Prix
Isack Hadjar is seeking explanations from Red Bull after experiencing significant issues with his RB22 car during practice sessions at the United States GP. Despite Max Verstappen's strong performance, Hadjar struggled with tyre degradation and handling.
Isack Hadjar has raised concerns with Red Bull following a challenging practice session at the 2026 United States Grand Prix. The French driver described his RB22 as "undriveable" during the second practice session at the Circuit of the Americas, a situation he finds "not normal."
While Max Verstappen, the four-time F1 champion, had a promising start to the weekend, finishing P2 in FP1 and P3 in FP2, Hadjar's fortunes were less favorable. He placed 14th and 9th in the respective sessions. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc set the pace, topping both practice sessions, leaving Hadjar trailing by 1.738 seconds in FP1 and reducing the gap to 1.120 seconds in FP2.
Hadjar's primary concern was the unusual tyre degradation he experienced on the C4 soft compound Pirellis during FP2. "We had an OK FP1," Hadjar noted, "but in FP2, the car was completely gone for me on the soft tyres. It was very difficult to drive." He remarked that the tyres seemed to lose performance almost immediately after the first sector, leaving him struggling for grip.
The situation was compounded by exceeding track limits, which cost Hadjar his fastest lap time in FP2. He initially clocked a 1:36.079, which would have placed him P6, ahead of Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson, but the time was deleted. Hadjar fell victim to track limits eight times during the session, with multiple infractions at Turn 12.
Red Bull's weekend hasn't been entirely bleak, however. The team introduced a new front wing and Brembo brake discs, developments that seemed to benefit Verstappen more than Hadjar. Verstappen managed a best time of 1:35.480 in FP2, while Hadjar's best was 1:36.411, slower than Lawson's 1:36.331 for P6 and just ahead of Haas' Oliver Bearman.
Hadjar is keen to resolve these issues before the next sessions. "I need to turn things around tomorrow, sit down and see what we can do," he said. He emphasized the need to bring the car's performance back to at least its FP1 level, describing the current situation as "a disaster."
With the United States Grand Prix in full swing, Hadjar's call for answers from Red Bull highlights the importance of adapting swiftly to technical challenges in Formula 1. As the team works to address these issues, the rest of the weekend promises to be an interesting test of both driver and machine.