Isack Hadjar described his Red Bull RB22 as completely undriveable during Friday practice at the Circuit of the Americas, finishing nearly a second behind teammate Max Verstappen after a setup change backfired.
Setup Changes Trigger Balance Crisis
The opening day of practice at the Austin circuit brought sharply contrasting fortunes for the Red Bull garage. Max Verstappen reported general satisfaction with the RB22, though technical director Pierre Waché noted that the team still needs to refine the car’s balance across slow-speed sections. But on the other side of the garage, Isack Hadjar faced an entirely different reality.
Isack Hadjar will remain with Red Bull Racing in 2027!#F1 pic.twitter.com/EFI1JYyVen
Hadjar felt reasonably positive during the opening morning session despite ending up 14th fastest. Seeking further progress, he opted for a different direction in his car’s setup ahead of afternoon practice.
“I actually made a lot of changes after FP1. I was quite happy with how things went this morning. Then I thought I was taking the right direction, but it only brought many more problems,” Hadjar explained.
While the medium compound tyres remained manageable despite the alterations, bolting on the soft compound transformed the car. “With the softs, the car was completely drifting for me. It was very difficult to drive, so I have to turn things around tomorrow.”
High-Speed Degradation Leaves Hadjar Adrift
Hadjar aired his frustrations over team radio throughout the second practice session as his qualifying simulation disintegrated. Severe balance issues caused his front tyres to overheat, destroying his pace after a promising start to the lap.
“It was simply catastrophic. I made most of my lap time in the first sector, but from the first sector to the end of the lap, I was slower than with the mediums. It was simply undriveable, I was losing a massive amount of front end,” Hadjar said.
According to Waché, the trouble stemmed from the heavy demands placed on the rubber through the esses. Pushing the tyres too hard early in the lap compromises the entire run.
| Driver | Team | Primary Issue Noted in Practice |
|---|---|---|
| Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing | Balance needed between high and low-speed corners |
| Isack Hadjar | Red Bull Racing | Severe front tyre overheating |
With parc fermé regulations looming at the start of qualifying, the team faces a race against time to restore Hadjar’s confidence and bring his RB22 back to the baseline setup he enjoyed during the morning session.
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