Isack Hadjar makes brutal Nico Rosberg ‘talent’ dig as Mercedes legend called out | F1 | Sport

Isack Hadjar reckons that Nico Rosberg’s psychological strength enabled him to battle Lewis Hamilton and ultimately secure the 2016 Drivers’ Championship crown, claiming that “it was definitely not with his talent” – a remark that sparked quite the reaction from Racing Bulls’ press officer.

Rosberg partnered Hamilton for four seasons from 2013 to 2016, spending the initial three campaigns trailing in the wake of the iconic Briton. Nevertheless, following his Mercedes team-mate’s World Championship triumphs in 2014 and 2015, he seized his opportunity for glory when it arrived.

Following his surprising retirement announcement from Formula One after clinching the World Championship in 2016, Rosberg has been candid about the psychological adjustments and tactical manoeuvres he employed to outmanoeuvre Hamilton after three years playing second fiddle.

Hadjar referenced Rosberg’s strategy whilst discussing with The Telegraph a potential switch to Red Bull for the 2026 campaign. The French-Algerian prodigy has impressed during his debut season, yet now confronts the intimidating challenge of competing directly against Max Verstappen, having witnessed the Dutchman overwhelm a succession of gifted team-mates.

“That’s how he got to fight against Lewis… It was definitely not with his talent,” he remarked. This allegedly prompted a dramatic reaction from the Racing Bulls press officer, who ‘almost spat out his latte at the comment’. He continued with a laugh: “I don’t mean [to be rude]. It’s just, for me, it’s… Nico was not [as talented as Hamilton], and he knows it. He was not gifted like Lewis. But he fought with him very hard.

“Because up there (mentally), he was making the most of his guys around and the car. I heard good stories about him. In GP2, he was impressive. He was doing the set-up. He’s a very smart guy. That is what I want to be able to do.”

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Thus far, Verstappen has overwhelmed Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Sergio Perez, Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda during his time as a Red Bull driver, with none of those racers bouncing back to secure a seat with a leading team after departing the Milton Keynes outfit. This naturally raises concerns for Hadjar as speculation continues linking him with Laurent Mekies’ squad.

“I mean, yes, but at the same time, you don’t want to [hide],” he revealed. “Sure, it would be a bit scary, but I look for that. It’s what I always wanted to do as a kid. It was never to just drive F1 cars, it’s to compete against the best in the world. It’s what I’m here for. What’s the best ever like? Because he [Verstappen] is the benchmark.

“I also feel like timing-wise, it’s interesting that there are new regulations coming next season. Everyone starts from zero again. So if it happens, it could also be very good. But honestly, either way, I’m still young. I believe whatever God decides is the right thing.”