Overview
- Hadjar said the seat worried him after seeing the large gaps to Verstappen.
- He says new rules and equal equipment give him a fair shot to prove he belongs.
- Across the first three races in Australia, China and Japan, he has run closer to Verstappen and holds a 2–1 edge in qualifying.
- He qualified third in Melbourne before a mechanical failure stopped him, and his only points so far are eighth in Shanghai.
- The role has tripped up a string of drivers since 2019, including Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Sergio Perez, Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda.