That said, the return to the cockpit has brought its moments of frustration alongside the speed. Red Bull's Isack Hadjar will start the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia from P8 after dropping five places with a grid penalty. The Frenchman is currently enjoying having a very good machine beneath him upon his return from injury, having marked his speed by going third fastest in Qualifying.
It is worth noting the Sepang event is just the driver's second weekend back since missing three rounds due to a wrist injury suffered whilst training in the summer break. Last time out in Baku, the Red Bull driver celebrated a third place podium finish. Unfortunately, despite being third quickest in Qualifying in Malaysia, he must take a five-place grid penalty for taking a seventh internal combustion engine (ICE) when only four are permitted.
It’s going to be so difficult to overtake on just raw pace and having to go for it on a track like that, all the temperatures are through the roof, and following cars is going to be difficult,
"It’s a bit unfortunate we take the penalty on the track where we're that fast," he said. "But from eighth, hopefully we can go through the field and come back for a good result."
Hadjar has been closer to the pace of Red Bull team mate Max Verstappen, who starts on pole for the first time in 2026, but the young driver was visibly disappointed that he couldn’t lock out the front row for the squad. Things went sideways right at the end of the session.
“I was quite happy up until that very last lap, and then it’s like we had a downgrade on that final lap in all aspects," he explained. "On the tyres, the grip I felt, we were down on power, so nothing really aligned when I felt like an easy P2 was achievable."
Even with the late-session disappointment, the underlying reality of the machinery is not lost on him. "You know, it’s the first time in my life that I actually feel like we do a terrible job and we’re third, so that’s the perks of having a very good car, and I won’t lie, it’s very satisfying."
With team mate Verstappen starting up front on pole, cutting through the pack from eighth on the grid will be a massive mountain to climb. "It’s going to be so difficult to overtake on just raw pace and having to go for it on a track like that, all the temperatures are through the roof, and following cars is going to be difficult," Hadjar noted. "So I think the only way is just, you know, be smart with the strategy, as clean as we can, and just go for it. It’s going to be fun."
