Max Verstappen has gone through three teammates between the 2024 and 2025 Formula 1 seasons and will now have a new fourth one in the form of Isack Hadjar in 2026.
Red Bull decided to promote Hadjar to replace Yuki Tsunoda alongside Verstappen for the upcoming season in which radically changed regulations will debut.
Hadjar has impressed with his performances in his rookie season, which started off with disaster as he crashed on his way to the starting grid of the season-opening race in Melbourne.
However, he has bounced back after that and gone on to deliver some strong qualifying and drives over the course of the year. He was in the top ten in qualifying 15 times, while he scored points on ten occasions, with his best finish being third place in Zandvoort.
While all his recent teammates struggled to keep up with him, Verstappen believes Hadjar is better positioned to deliver given the rule changes for 2026.
When asked if Hadjar's situation is better, he said: "That’s very different, of course. Also a new car, new regulations, so in that respect, I think it’s the right time to step in."
Two races not enough for a driver to show his worth
After Red Bull fired Sergio Perez in 2024, they replaced him with Liam Lawson, who struggled from the onset and was dropped and sent back to Racing Bulls after just two races in favor of Tsunoda, who didn't end up being better.
Verstappen admitted he was not happy with his team's decision; he explained: "Two races for a teammate—of course I didn’t agree with that at the time.
“Because ultimately, someone is giving up their chance…yes, then you’re ruining [that chance] at a top team. I have to say that Liam has done well at Racing Bulls.
“You could also say, ‘just leave it; I don’t care anymore’, but two races is far too early to make a decision. In the end, Yuki got in, and that shows how difficult it was," the Dutchman pointed out.
Verstappen, after two seasons of fighting without a teammate, maintains that a team should have a clear number one and number two driver but insisted that the latter should contribute to the team's points tally.
“But of course, a number two who still scores enough points to compete for the constructors’ title. But a clear number one and two," he concluded.
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