Isack Hadjar: F1 Cars No Longer Need Higher Speed to Overtake

Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar has highlighted a significant shift in Formula 1 overtaking dynamics during the 2026 season, noting that cars no longer require a substantial pace advantage to complete passes.

According to reporting from Motorsport.com, Hadjar stated on April 9, 2026, that overtaking is now possible even when two drivers possess identical pace.

This development marks a departure from previous seasons, where the attacking car typically needed to be significantly faster than the car ahead to successfully execute a maneuver.

Impact of the New Power Unit Era

The change in racing behavior is attributed to the introduction of a new power unit era. These units feature increased electrical power, which has shifted the competitive focus toward energy management.

The increased emphasis on energy management has altered how drivers approach corners. Because drivers are now slowing down earlier before entering turns, overtaking has become easier to achieve.

Overtaking Statistics and Comparisons

The impact of these technical changes is evident in the data from the start of the 2026 season. During the first three Grands Prix of the year, a total of 149 overtaking moves were recorded.

This figure is considered a conservative estimate, as it only accounts for position changes recorded on the finish line and excludes the first lap of each race.

This represents a substantial increase compared to the 2025 season. In the Melbourne, Shanghai, and Suzuka races of 2025, there were only 63 recorded passes.

Driver Analysis on Racing Quality

Speaking on April 9, 2026, at the Japanese Grand Prix, Hadjar observed that it’s the only time in a while where two cars with an identical pace can overtake each other back and forth.

Whereas, if you take last year, you always needed like six, seven, eight tenths’ advantage to overtake the car ahead of you. Sometimes even more. And sometimes when you complete the overtake, you know that the car behind is never going to overtake you back.

Isack Hadjar

Hadjar noted that while the new dynamics are making the racing better, the process can at times feel a bit artificial.

He emphasized the necessity of finding the right balance to ensure the racing remains competitive without feeling manufactured, though he maintained that the current state is definitely better than the previous era.

Future Outlook

The driver was asked whether this trend in overtaking would change as teams gain a deeper understanding of energy management or if specific technical tweaks would be required.

Hadjar responded that the evolution of the racing would likely be a bit of both, suggesting that both team learning and regulatory adjustments will play a role in shaping future competition.