Isack Hadjar believes the hole to his Pink Bull team-mate Max Verstappen in qualifying for the Method 1 Miami Grand Prix doesn’t signify the precise efficiency deficit.
Hadjar certified a disappointing ninth and was 0.825s behind the four-time world champion, who took second with a further 0.166s to Mercedes polesitter Kimi Antonelli.
However Hadjar, who was disqualified over a technical infringement, believes the eight tenths distinction isn’t down to only pure tempo.
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That’s notably as a result of throughout the opening three rounds of 2026, there was by no means greater than 5 tenths between the newly paired team-mates in a qualifying session.
New Pink Bull signing Hadjar is just combating the low-grip nature of Miami, having additionally completed 0.961s behind the Dutchman in qualifying for Saturday’s dash race.
Explaining the hole to Verstappen, Hadjar mentioned: “Simply myself, simply driving. I feel it is a very tough observe, very low grip with excessive observe temperature so nothing to do with what we had within the first three rounds.
Isack Hadjar, Pink Bull Racing
Photograph by: Chris Graythen / Getty Photographs
“It is not a really fluid racing observe with good grip. It is utterly completely different and Max is superb at adapting to those situations.
“Within the corners, I can let you know I’ve made massive progress in comparison with yesterday. I simply could not tidy up like he did and on prime of that I am lacking in each straight.”
Hadjar added that he particularly struggled throughout sector one in an in any other case much-improved qualifying for Pink Bull with its closely upgraded RB22; the Austrian outfit arrived on the Miami GP sixth within the championship.
“On my aspect I could not take Flip 1 and when you miss Flip 1, it is Flip 2 and three which are compromised as effectively,” mentioned the 21-year-old, who’s twelfth within the drivers’ standings.
“On my aspect it began there and you then warmth up the tyres extra and you then pay the worth for the remainder of the lap. On prime of that I am combating drivability as effectively and prime velocity.”
So the Frenchman remains to be upbeat about his progress amid yr two of F1, claiming plenty of it was simply right down to Verstappen maximising the Pink Bull.
Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing
Photograph by: Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photographs
“Yesterday, I knew I needed to dig deep,” added Hadjar. “Half of the lap time yesterday was on one thing I could not management and half was myself.
“I knew I needed to actually ship one thing extra and in the present day after I have a look at the info I am pleased with what I used to be in a position to do.
“Max was manner higher than me at placing the whole lot collectively and on prime of {that a} bit extra straight line – he did a really superb job!”
Struggles with Miami’s low-grip nature have additionally been felt by George Russell, who put that as the explanation for him being second-best to team-mate Antonelli.
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