Isack Hadjar says Red Bull did not have the fastest car at the Singapore Grand Prix, arguing Max Verstappen would have won by a wider margin in a Ferrari ahead of Austin.

He contends Verstappen’s 7.3-second victory over Charles Leclerc owes more to execution than an inherent car advantage, challenging assumptions about Red Bull’s Singapore pace.

Verstappen arrives in Austin off wins in Bahrain and Malaysia, plus pole positions in both Marina Bay sessions at the Singapore Grand Prix.

In the Austin drivers’ press conference, Hadjar adds the RB car remains difficult to manage, and that Red Bull lacked outright pace over a lap in Singapore.

He notes pole at Marina Bay was decided by just 0.05s, underlining fine margins. Ferrari’s shortage of fresh soft tyres limited stint flexibility and constrained race pressure.

Hadjar credits Verstappen for maximizing Q3, tyre usage, and track evolution to control the race despite not holding the quickest package on the day.

Oscar Piastri observes Red Bull’s Azerbaijan upgrades have delivered consistent speed, reinforcing recent form and the importance of ongoing technical developments in the 2026 season.

With six rounds remaining, Red Bull sits fourth in the constructors’ standings, seven points behind McLaren in third.

Verstappen ranks fourth on 221 points, closing on Lewis Hamilton’s 229. Hadjar is eighth with 97, underpinning Red Bull’s scoring base.

The picture reinforces driver impact versus machinery. If Ferrari held the quicker Singapore package, Verstappen’s execution proved decisive, while Hadjar’s Singapore reflections highlight Ferrari’s tyre constraints and narrow qualifying margins.

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Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.