Last Updated on December 23 2025, 12:43 pm

Max Verstappen’s record against his Formula 1 teammates is as impressive as it is daunting. Over his nearly decade-long career at the top level, the now 28-year-old Dutchman has dismantled a succession of highly rated drivers, many of whom arrived with strong reputations and left with their confidence bruised. As Red Bull prepares for a new chapter, the spotlight turns to 21-year-old Frenchman Isack Hadjar, can he fare any better than those before him?

 

 

 

Verstappen’s Ruthless Benchmark

Verstappen’s teammate history reads like a warning label. At Toro Rosso, he narrowly beat Carlos Sainz in qualifying by 12:11, before gaining a clearer lead in races with a score of 12:9. Daniel Ricciardo offered stiffer resistance, with Verstappen winning their qualifying duel 34:23 and their race battles 35:22.

From there, the gap widened. Pierre Gasly was beaten by a margin of 11:1 in qualifying and races. Alex Albon fared little better, losing by margins of 25:1 in qualifying and 17:9 in races. Sergio Pérez, a proven race winner, was comprehensively outmatched, with results of 80:10 in qualifying and 79:11 in races. More recent comparisons underline this trend: 2–0 against Liam Lawson and an astonishing 22–0 against Yuki Tsunoda in qualifying, with similarly one-sided race results.

Against this backdrop, any new teammate would face a daunting task.

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Villeneuve sees raw potential in Hadjar

However, Jacques Villeneuve, the 1997 Formula 1 World Champion, believes that Hadjar has shown signs of belonging at the top level. Speaking on the High Performance podcast, Villeneuve highlighted the Frenchman’s aggressive edge:

“Isack had some pretty crazy races. He drove very aggressively at times, so I thought, Wow, where did that come from?” Villeneuve said.

However, the Canadian also urged caution. Hadjar’s performances were not all spectacular, and there were races where he was closely matched with Liam Lawson rather than being clearly ahead.

“We mustn’t forget that this was Isack’s first season,’ Villeneuve added. ‘If he can maintain this momentum, then he’s in excellent hands at Red Bull Racing.”

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A New Era, But Familiar Dangers

Hadjar himself has suggested that joining Red Bull ahead of the 2026 regulation reset could be advantageous, as everyone will be starting from a clean slate. However, former World Sportscar Champion and Sky Sports analyst Anthony Davidson is not so optimistic.

“Isack needs to be careful because that’s too simplistic a view for me,” Davidson warned. “Former teammates like Gasly or Albon were very talented, and yet they stood no chance against Max.”

Davidson believes that Verstappen’s greatest strength lies beyond raw speed. ‘Drivers who are mentally free enough to think about all the nuances of attacking and defending while driving will have an advantage next season,’ he explained. “And for me, Max Verstappen is one of those who will handle these tools superbly.”

The real test lies ahead.

For Hadjar, the challenge is not just to be fast, but to endure mentally in Verstappen’s shadow. Villeneuve sees promise; Davidson sees danger, and Verstappen remains the constant. History suggests that potential alone is not enough at Red Bull. Whether Hadjar can defy that pattern is one of the most intriguing subplots to watch.

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Fresh revelations surrounding Lewis Hamilton’s future at Ferrari have rocked Formula 1, with new reports suggesting his contract with the Scuderia is significantly longer than initially assumed. According to Bild, the seven-time world champion is secured not only for the upcoming regulatory era, but also for a period well beyond 2026.

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