Hadjar on the same page as Verstappen after blunt assessment of 2026 cars
Isack Hadjar echoed his teammate’s comments about the difficulty of driving the new 2026 cars.
”I want to drive cars that can break lap records. That's what you dream of when you're a kid. I like to drive faster cars”- Isack Hadjar
Hadjar aligns with Verstappen on challenges of new F1 cars
Speaking to GPblog among other media, the Frenchman admitted he would have preferred to be driving faster cars: ”I want to drive cars that can break lap records. That's what you dream of when you're a kid. I like to drive faster cars.”
The topic of energy harvesting and all the changes introduced by the new regulations is something that actually intrigues Hadjar, as it demands far more logic and strategic thinking than in the past: “It requires using your brain a bit more. It's a bit more difficult for everyone. You know, it's less natural to drive, but there's more of an opportunity to make a difference, that's for sure.”
As for the idea that the cars are now more reactive to drive, Hadjar does not believe that is the case: ”I don't think they're more reactive. You have less downforce, you have less response. I think they look that way because they have less downforce and they are sliding around a bit more, and they are smaller. So in a way, in slow speed, all the slow speed corners, medium speed range, it doesn't feel too different to last year. It's just more like the funnier stuff.”
He finally added: ”I'm sure the excitement of fighting for wins against top drivers is still going to be here. And that's what matters the most. But still, you'd like to do it in cars that are super, super fast. It makes it a bit better.”
Alonso mocks new F1 rules with tongue-in-cheek 'chef' comment
The Spaniard used a specific on-track example to underline just how central energy deployment has become this season, noting that drivers are now forced to back off in the corners to ensure maximum energy is available on the straights.
He compared the speeds through Turns 10–12 between the old generation of cars and the current one, pointing out that the sizeable reduction in cornering speed to save energy down the straight has, in his words, reached a point where even “the chef” could handle the car — a remark made with clear irony.
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