Felipe Massa: Isack Hadjar joins Red Bull in the 'right year' due to 2026 reset

Felipe Massa believes Isack Hadjar's promotion to Red Bull Racing for 2026 comes at the perfect time, as a complete technical regulation reset levels the playing field and could solve the team's long-standing 'second seat' problem. The former Ferrari driver argues that with brand-new cars, the challenge of adapting will be universal, potentially giving the young Frenchman a cleaner slate to prove himself against Max Verstappen.

Why it matters:

Red Bull has struggled for years to find a consistent performer alongside Verstappen, with the car's specific characteristics often cited as a major hurdle. Hadjar's arrival coincides with a regulatory blank slate, which may reduce the inherent advantage Verstappen has built with the current car philosophy and offer a truer test of raw talent.

The details:

• Massa, an 11-time Grand Prix winner, praised Hadjar's "fantastic" debut F1 season with Racing Bulls, which made his promotion inevitable.
• He highlighted that the pressure will be immense driving for the top team next to Verstappen, but emphasized Hadjar must focus on his own learning curve.
• The core of Massa's argument centers on the 2026 regulation changes. He suggests the new RB22 will be a completely different car, requiring a different driving style.
  • This could negate the complexity that other teammates have struggled with since Daniel Ricciardo's departure in 2018.
• Massa also noted the changing team environment, with Laurent Mekies now at the helm instead of Christian Horner, as another variable in the new era.

What's next:

All eyes will be on Hadjar's adaptation to the top team and the new 2026 machinery. If Massa's theory is correct, the playing field at Red Bull will be as level as it has been in nearly a decade, providing a golden opportunity for Hadjar to define his own path and potentially end the team's search for a stable, competitive driver pairing.