Max Verstappen's New Teammate Faces Nightmare Crash: Is His 2026 Season Already Over?
The tension is palpable in the Red Bull Racing camp as the countdown to the 2026 Formula 1 Championship intensifies. With the Australian Grand Prix just weeks away, one of Verstappen's newest allies, Isack Hadjar, is grappling with a crisis that could jeopardize his entire season. A catastrophic crash during pre-season testing has left the young driver reeling, fearing that his dreams of success might have been obliterated in an instant.
The F1 landscape is undergoing a seismic shift, with new regulations revolutionizing the sport's chassis and engine frameworks. This year marks one of the most significant overhauls in recent history, emphasizing electric energy and putting drivers’ adaptability to the ultimate test. Yet, even a seasoned champion like Max Verstappen has voiced frustrations over the steep learning curve associated with these changes. If the four-time champion is struggling, what does that mean for the 21-year-old Hadjar, who is under immense pressure to prove himself?
Hadjar's pre-season kicked off in the worst possible way when he crashed the RB22 during the second day of a five-day testing session in Barcelona. The damage from this single incident was staggering, estimated at over $514,000. This crash not only halted the team’s shakedown plans but also delayed Verstappen’s much-anticipated return to the track. In a sport where every second counts, such setbacks can be catastrophic.
Reflecting on the crash, Hadjar shared his raw emotions. “When I had the accident, I immediately thought of Pierre [Gasly]. I went on Twitter, read everything, and thought I was ruined for the whole season,” he admitted. His reference to Gasly is telling—Gasly was once a victim of Red Bull’s infamous ‘second driver curse,’ a fate that could easily befall Hadjar if he doesn’t perform.
The history of Red Bull’s second seat is littered with casualties. Since Verstappen's rise to prominence in 2016, the team has cycled through a series of drivers, each struggling to live up to the high expectations set by the team. After Daniel Ricciardo left to escape the shadow of Verstappen, Gasly was promoted but quickly demoted after failing to deliver. The pattern continued with Alex Albon, Sergio Perez, and now Liam Lawson, who barely lasted two race weekends before being replaced by Yuki Tsunoda. Hadjar now stands at the precipice; will he be the next victim of this relentless cycle?
As the days tick down to the 2026 season opener, the pressure mounts not just on Hadjar but on the entire Red Bull team. With the stakes higher than ever, every moment on the track will count. Will Isack Hadjar rise to the occasion and defy the odds, or will he become another statistic in Red Bull's tumultuous history? The F1 world is watching, and the answer could change the course of his career forever.








