Isack Hadjar believes Max Verstappen would have won the 2026 Singapore Grand Prix by an even greater margin if he had been driving a Ferrari rather than a Red Bull. Speaking ahead of the United States Grand Prix in Austin, the French driver argued that Ferrari had been the faster team at Marina Bay, suggesting that the four-time Formula 1 world champion’s driving ability had made the decisive difference.
The assessment is particularly striking given Red Bull’s recent improvement and Max Verstappen’s victory in Singapore. While the team’s stronger performances have attracted considerable attention, Hadjar believes it is still too early to describe Red Bull as the fastest constructor on the grid.
His comments also offer an interesting perspective on Ferrari’s performance at Marina Bay, where Charles Leclerc finished second behind Max Verstappen. Despite missing out on victory, the Scuderia demonstrated encouraging competitiveness, and Hadjar’s interpretation suggests its underlying potential may have been greater than the final result indicated.
Isack Hadjar believes Ferrari was faster than Red Bull in Singapore
During the pre-event press conference in Austin, Isack Hadjar was asked about Red Bull’s recent progress and the performances that have brought the team back into contention at the front of the field.
Although the Frenchman acknowledged the competitiveness demonstrated by the car in Malaysia, he explained that several areas still needed improvement before Red Bull could confidently claim to possess the strongest package in Formula 1.
“It’s still a difficult car to drive. In Malaysia, it was a dominant car, but it’s still too early to say we’re the fastest on the grid. There are still things we need to sort out,” Isack Hadjar explained.
The comments indicate that, despite Red Bull’s encouraging results, the team has not necessarily resolved every difficulty associated with its car. For Hadjar, recent success does not automatically mean that the competitive order has been permanently established.
However, his most noteworthy observation concerned Max Verstappen and the contribution the Dutch driver has made to Red Bull’s victories. Discussing the team’s two recent wins, particularly the Singapore Grand Prix, Hadjar suggested that the four-time world champion had achieved more than the car’s outright performance might have indicated.
“If Max had been in one of the two Ferraris, I think he would have won by an even bigger margin. In Singapore, they were definitely the fastest,” the French driver concluded.
The remark prompted visible surprise among those attending the press conference, a reaction that was also apparent to viewers following the discussion.
Max Verstappen’s Singapore victory raises questions about Ferrari’s missed opportunity
Isack Hadjar’s assessment places particular emphasis on Max Verstappen’s contribution to Red Bull’s recent success. Rather than attributing the Singapore victory solely to the performance of the car, he believes the Dutchman’s driving was fundamental to the outcome.
That interpretation is especially relevant to Ferrari, which showed strong pace at Marina Bay but ultimately finished behind the Red Bull driver.
Charles Leclerc secured second place after challenging Max Verstappen, giving the Italian team an important podium and further encouragement ahead of the next phase of the championship.
Hadjar’s argument goes further than simply acknowledging Ferrari’s competitiveness. In his opinion, the SF-26 was the quicker car at Singapore, and Max Verstappen could have converted that performance advantage into an even more commanding victory.
It is a striking assessment because it separates the ability of the driver from the underlying competitiveness of the machinery, suggesting that the strongest race result does not always belong to the team with the fastest car.
The wider circumstances of Ferrari’s performance at Marina Bay, including Charles Leclerc’s second-place finish and the team’s expectations ahead of Austin, are explored in our analysis of Ferrari’s Singapore podium and upcoming SF-26 developments.
Red Bull remains cautious despite its recent Formula 1 resurgence
Red Bull has returned to prominence following a series of strong performances, demonstrating that it can once again compete effectively at the front of the Formula 1 field.
Nevertheless, Isack Hadjar’s comments suggest that the team’s resurgence should not yet be interpreted as proof that it possesses a clear advantage over all its rivals. The French driver considers the car difficult to drive and believes further improvements are necessary. That assessment provides an important contrast with the results achieved by Max Verstappen, whose performances have helped Red Bull regain momentum.
Mercedes also remains an important reference point in the competitive picture. Following Red Bull’s recent improvement, the team appears increasingly capable of challenging the Mercedes drivers, potentially creating another closely contested weekend in Austin.
For Ferrari, the situation is equally interesting. Hadjar’s Singapore assessment suggests that the Scuderia’s pace deserves attention, particularly as the Italian team prepares to evaluate further technical developments at the Circuit of The Americas.
The relative performances of the leading constructors can also be followed through the Ferrari versus Formula 1 rivals statistics, which provide comparisons between the Scuderia and its main competitors.
Austin practice sessions will offer the next indication of Ferrari and Red Bull pace
With the United States Grand Prix approaching, the next question concerns whether Red Bull can maintain its recent momentum or whether Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren will be able to challenge more effectively.
Isack Hadjar is hoping for a much better weekend after a difficult Singapore Grand Prix, where several problems with his car forced him to start from the back of the field. The French driver now has an opportunity to assess Red Bull’s performance at a different circuit, while Max Verstappen will attempt to continue the team’s positive run of results.
The first free practice sessions will provide an initial indication of the competitive order, although the complete picture will only become clearer as the weekend progresses. Fans can follow the 2026 United States Grand Prix schedule and Austin weekend guide for the session times and relevant information about the Circuit of The Americas.
For Ferrari, Hadjar’s comments provide an intriguing assessment of the Singapore Grand Prix. Despite Max Verstappen taking victory, the Red Bull driver believes the Scuderia possessed greater outright performance at Marina Bay.
Whether that advantage can translate into a stronger result at Austin remains to be seen. What is clear from Hadjar’s interpretation is that Max Verstappen’s recent victories cannot be explained by the performance of the Red Bull alone, and that Ferrari may have been a more formidable opponent in Singapore than the finishing order suggested.
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