Driver sparks debate with Ferrari comment

Isack Hadjar, a French driver for Red Bull, sparked controversy during the United States Grand Prix with comments suggesting that his teammate Max Verstappen would have won the Singapore Grand Prix with a larger margin if he had been driving a Ferrari. Hadjar made the statement on Friday while discussing the Singapore race.

Ferrari drivers question the claim

Hadjar's remarks generated reactions from drivers at Ferrari, as well as his own teammate. "I think that if you put Max in a Ferrari, he would have won the race with an even greater margin," Hadjar said. This hypothesis was met with skepticism by Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, both of whom were reluctant to validate the comparison between the cars.

Leclerc calls the claim absurd

Leclerc, a Monegasque driver for Ferrari, responded strongly to Hadjar's comments. He argued that it was impossible to draw such a conclusion without knowing the precise potential of each car. "It's completely absurd to make such a statement. He knows just as little about the real level of the Ferrari as I do about the level of his car," Leclerc said.

Hamilton notes Red Bull's progress

Hamilton, a seven-time world champion, was more measured in his response but did not agree with Hadjar's analysis. He noted the progress made by Red Bull, which is now capable of competing with Ferrari in corners while maintaining an advantage on straights. "They have now caught up with us in the corners, and they are three or four tenths faster on the straights," Hamilton explained.

Verstappen downplays the controversy

Max Verstappen, Hadjar's teammate, also reacted to the comments. The Dutchman first joked about the controversy, saying, "What an interesting discussion!" He then downplayed the significance of the statement, noting that it was about something of no importance. "He is concerned about something that is of no importance," Verstappen said, showing reluctance to dwell on what he might have achieved driving a Ferrari in Singapore.