Red Bull progress ‘better than we hoped for’ – Hadjar

Isack Hadjar has expressed positive feedback on Red Bull's 2026 pre-season testing in Bahrain, stating that the team's progress has been "better than we hoped for." The Frenchman praised the new power unit as "reliable" and "powerful," a significant boost ahead of his debut season with the team. While teammate Max Verstappen clocked over 130 laps, Hadjar overcame an early technical snag on Thursday to complete 87 laps, finishing fifth on the timesheets. He noted the new car is "easier to push to the limit," feeling lighter and smaller, though still requiring work on balance and tyre understanding. Hadjar's optimistic outlook suggests a promising start for Red Bull's new era.