Laurent Mekies tipped his hat to debutant after a really spectacular begin to the 2026 Method 1 marketing campaign on the Australian Grand Prix.
, however he impressed till then with third in qualifying and virtually taking the lead at race begin.
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It marked a stark distinction to Hadjar’s predecessors, who’ve all struggled in opposition to within the sister automobile, inflicting that second seat to be an actual drawback for Pink Bull.
Now, the Austrian outfit is assured it’s discovered the suitable team-mate for the four-time world champion, particularly as Hadjar’s efficiency got here regardless of varied mechanical faults impacting his preparation in pre-season.
“He did a improbable weekend,” stated group principal Mekies. “Coming right here, pretty restricted mileage in testing, with a little bit of lack of luck there, and he got here right here from the very first lap, FP1, Friday, on the suitable tempo.
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“We had been capable of cut up the testing programme between the automobiles, get double the quantity of data. He went to qualifying with every little thing, which means a primary time qualifying with these guidelines, completely nailed it. Put the automobile in P3, which might be as excessive because it might have been on Saturday.
Isack Hadjar, Pink Bull Racing
Isack Hadjar, Pink Bull Racing
“So, hats off, actually and right this moment, he was on his method to have a mega begin earlier than he realised we did not have the battery cost and I believe the tempo would have been ok to battle with the .”
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That may have put him round Verstappen’s ending place, having risen from twentieth – as a result of his crash in Q1 – to sixth whereas making use of late stress on McLaren’s , although finally coming brief.
The early indicators are subsequently optimistic, however the situation of no battery cost at race begin was prevalent throughout each Pink Bull automobiles – as was the case at earlier than it completed 1-2.
“It is our duty to keep away from that scenario,” added Mekies. “We now have been caught by some limitations of the best way you’ll be able to cost and discharge the battery within the formation lap. If we’re the one ones who’ve been caught by that, it implies that we’ve not accomplished an excellent job. So, it is what it’s.
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“Principally, with the weird behaviours that drivers have to have on a formation lap, with acceleration, braking, acceleration, braking to heat your brakes, to heat your tyres, and so on, we ended up in some extent the place we had been unable anymore to get to the suitable state of cost for the race begin.
“We needed to construct up that battery degree by the primary lap, which clearly was not pleasing.”
Images from Australian GP – SundayLewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Isack Hadjar, Pink Bull Racing
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Isack Hadjar, Pink Bull Racing
Sam Bloxham / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
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Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Staff
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Staff
Alastair Staley / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
Entertainers
Entertainers
Alastair Staley / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Mario Renzi / Method 1 through Getty Pictures
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Mario Renzi / Method 1 through Getty Pictures
Zak Brown, McLaren
Zak Brown, McLaren
Martin Hold / AFP through Getty Pictures
Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Pictures through Getty Pictures
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Pictures through Getty Pictures
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Carlos Sainz, Williams
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Jayce Illman / Getty Pictures
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Pictures
Isack Hadjar, Pink Bull Racing
Isack Hadjar, Pink Bull Racing
Kym Illman / Getty Pictures
Alexander Albon, Williams
Alexander Albon, Williams
Martin Hold / AFP through Getty Pictures
The 2026 F1 drivers photograph
The 2026 F1 drivers photograph
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Pictures through Getty Pictures
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Anni Graf – Method 1 through Getty Pictures
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Anni Graf – Method 1 through Getty Pictures
Sam Brabham drives a Brabham BT-19 on observe
Sam Brabham drives a Brabham BT-19 on observe
Mark Sutton / Method 1 through Getty Pictures
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Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing, Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing
Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing, Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing
Martin Hold / AFP through Getty Pictures
Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing, Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing
Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing, Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing
Mark Thompson / Getty Pictures
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing
Simon Galloway / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
Sam Brabham drives a Brabham BT-19 on observe
Sam Brabham drives a Brabham BT-19 on observe
Mark Sutton / Method 1 through Getty Pictures
Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing
Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing
Mark Thompson / Getty Pictures
Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
Anni Graf – Method 1 through Getty Pictures
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Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
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Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Pictures
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Pictures
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Dom Gibbons / Method 1 through Getty Pictures
Franco Colapinto, Alpine, Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing, George Russell, Mercedes, Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Franco Colapinto, Alpine, Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing, George Russell, Mercedes, Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Simon Galloway / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Peter Fox / Getty Pictures
Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing
Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing
Peter Fox / Getty Pictures
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Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
Mario Renzi / Method 1 through Getty Pictures
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes
Paul Crock / AFP through Getty Pictures
George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes
Mark Sutton / Method 1 through Getty Pictures
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes
Lars Baron / Getty Pictures
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Martin Hold / AFP through Getty Pictures
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Isack Hadjar, Pink Bull Racing
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Isack Hadjar, Pink Bull Racing
Mark Thompson / Getty Pictures
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Dom Gibbons / Method 1 through Getty Pictures
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Alexander Albon, Williams
Alexander Albon, Williams
Peter Fox / Getty Pictures
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Staff, Carlos Sainz, Williams
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Staff, Carlos Sainz, Williams
Mark Sutton / Method 1 through Getty Pictures
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes
Joe Portlock / Getty Pictures
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
Paul Crock / AFP through Getty Pictures
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes
Martin Hold / AFP through Getty Pictures
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes
Joe Portlock / Getty Pictures
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Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Staff
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Staff
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes
Martin Hold / AFP through Getty Pictures
Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing
Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing
Peter Fox / Getty Pictures
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing
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Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing
Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing
James Sutton / Method 1 / Method Motorsport Ltd through Getty Pictures
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
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Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
Lars Baron / Getty Pictures
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Peter Fox / Getty Pictures
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Lars Baron / Getty Pictures
Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
Joe Portlock / Getty Pictures
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
William West / AFP through Getty Pictures
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing
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Isack Hadjar, Pink Bull Racing
Isack Hadjar, Pink Bull Racing
Mark Sutton / Method 1 through Getty Pictures
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Dom Gibbons / Method 1 through Getty Pictures
Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing
Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing
Simon Galloway / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
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Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Staff
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Staff
Anni Graf – Method 1 through Getty Pictures
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Paul Crock / AFP through Getty Pictures
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Lars Baron / Getty Pictures
George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes
Mario Renzi / Method 1 through Getty Pictures
George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes
Anni Graf – Method 1 through Getty Pictures
George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes
Martin Hold / AFP through Getty Pictures
Toto Wolff, Mercedes
Toto Wolff, Mercedes
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Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Staff
Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Staff
Mark Thompson / Getty Pictures
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Steven Tee / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes
Mario Renzi / Method 1 through Getty Pictures
George Russell, Mercedes, Toto Wolff, Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes, Toto Wolff, Mercedes
Mark Sutton / Method 1 through Getty Pictures
George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Mark Sutton / Method 1 through Getty Pictures
George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes
Simon Galloway / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Joe Portlock / Getty Pictures
George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes
William West / AFP through Getty Pictures
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Joe Portlock / Getty Pictures
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Dom Gibbons / Method 1 through Getty Pictures
George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Simon Galloway / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Mario Renzi / Method 1 through Getty Pictures
George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes
Mario Renzi / Method 1 through Getty Pictures
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Mario Renzi / Method 1 through Getty Pictures
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Anni Graf – Method 1 through Getty Pictures
George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Joe Portlock / Getty Pictures
George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Joe Portlock / Getty Pictures
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