Max Verstappen is surely the most ruthless wheel-to-wheel racer on the current F1 grid. But Isack Hadjar says there’s one driver he knows he can’t bully.
Verstappen is a driver who’s always operated on the edge of the rules. That’s why he was hovering on 11 penalty points earlier in the year, putting him on the brink of a race ban.
Speaking to Canal+ before the Singapore Grand Prix, Racing Bulls driver Isack Hadjar said Verstappen is ‘the boss’ on track. He ‘makes everyone miserable’ by either refusing to let him by or carving a way past.
Hadjar could be Verstappen’s teammate next year, which may spare him from the world champion’s more extreme tactics, if indeed he can get close enough to battle him.
Isack Hadjar says Max Verstappen treats Charles Leclerc differently on track
Hadjar, the second-highest ranking ‘midfield’ driver in the championship behind Williams’ Alex Albon, has occasionally been able to battle with the frontrunners this season. Most notably, he held off Charles Leclerc and George Russell for a podium at Zandvoort.
Hadjar says Leclerc’s racecraft is ‘quite impressive’, highlighting his bravery. Even Verstappen is compelled to show him ‘a little more respect’.
Verstappen and Leclerc looked set to battle for the F1 title at the start of 2022, contesting epic battles at the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix. But Red Bull won the development race and the Monegasque driver started to make mistakes, which effectively ended the contest in the second half of the season.
“I’ve already met Charles Leclerc on the track, who’s playing up front with Ferrari,” said Hadjar. “And among the drivers who are good at overtaking, he’s quite impressive. He sees a gap where there’s no room to go, he goes for it anyway and it works. He’s very, very strong.
“On the track, Verstappen makes everyone miserable, he’s the boss, but when it’s Charles with him, I have the impression that he gives him a little more respect anyway.”
Ferrari icon chooses between Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen
Verstappen and Leclerc raced against one another in karting, so they’re experts in one another’s tactics. This may be why the former’s approach is different.
Martin Brundle has said Leclerc is faster than Verstappen in qualifying, but he may not boast the same overall package.
Even former Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo says Verstappen is ‘by far’ the best driver in F1, rather than Leclerc.
The Red Bull driver has strengthened that case by just about staying in the 2025 title fight despite McLaren’s considerable car advantage. Leclerc says Verstappen has been ‘fantastic’, but he’d be ‘really surprised’ if he mounts a comeback.