{"id":138451,"date":"2025-05-28T11:01:12","date_gmt":"2025-05-28T11:01:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/138451\/"},"modified":"2025-05-28T11:01:12","modified_gmt":"2025-05-28T11:01:12","slug":"a-grand-prix-weekend-with-isack-hadjar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/138451\/","title":{"rendered":"A grand prix weekend with Isack Hadjar"},"content":{"rendered":"

He arrived quietly, without fanfare, letting other rookies soak up the spotlight. Isack Hadjar became a full-time Formula 1 driver without ever having won a junior championship \u2013 a fact he addresses in his own way: few words, carefully chosen, straight to the point.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor a young driver, the most important thing is to impress. You can win a title, but if you don\u2019t impress people, you\u2019ll hardly achieve your goal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hadjar did impress \u2013 enough to earn his place in F1 at the age of 20 and to quickly send another message to those who believed in him: Isack was worth the investment.<\/p>\n

At the Monaco Grand Prix in 2021, Hadjar claimed a surprise victory in the Formula Regional support race after securing pole position. After the race, he returned to a small apartment he had rented for the weekend with his former manager.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had just walked in when my trainer said he got a call: \u2018Helmut Marko wants to meet you.\u2019 I told him to get lost \u2013 I thought he was joking. But he kept insisting, and I realised it was serious. I asked, \u2018OK, when?\u2019 and he said, \u2018Now!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Unable to find a taxi, they ran on foot to Marko\u2019s hotel. \u201cWe arrived completely soaked in sweat. Helmut was standing in the lobby. We sat down, and it was all very simple. He looked at me and said, \u2018I\u2019ll send you a contract. That\u2019s it.\u2019 At the time it felt strange, but I later understood \u2013 that\u2019s how it works.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Isack <\/p>\n

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls, with Autosport’s Roberto Chinchero<\/p>\n

Photo by: Racing Bulls<\/p>\n

From Faenza to the grid<\/p>\n

Hadjar now lives in Faenza, close to the Racing Bulls team that welcomed him last winter. \u201cI prefer it to Milton Keynes, but in reality I spend very little time at home. I left for Melbourne and didn\u2019t come back until just before Imola. You go from race to race, and if there are a few free days, I usually spend them at the simulator in Milton Keynes.\u201d<\/p>\n

When he listens, Hadjar pays close attention. But when he speaks, his gaze drifts off \u2013 only to lock back in on his final sentence.<\/p>\n

As he prepares for his first European race weekend as an F1 driver, there\u2019s no sign of nerves. His Faenza flat is just 15km from the Imola circuit. He packs his backpack with care, checking twice that everything is in place \u2013 a sign of the precision and discipline that also show in his passion for judo, which he practises whenever possible. Once ready, he\u2019s the one prompting others: \u201cShall we go?\u201d<\/p>\n

A story of dedication and roots<\/p>\n

His parents are with him all the way. His father Yassine is a quantum physicist, his mother Randa is an HR director at a public company and helps manage Isack\u2019s career. \u201cMy family is originally from Algeria. My parents came to France alone at 19 and built everything they have through hard work.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yassine is well respected in his field \u2013 and the formulae on the back of Isack\u2019s helmet are a tribute to him.<\/p>\n

\"Isack <\/p>\n

Isack Hadjar’s helmet<\/p>\n

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I was five, he put me in a rental kart, and I found it terrifying. Two years later, he signed me up for a course outside Paris \u2013 one session every other Sunday. Eventually, the instructor told my dad, \u2018Your son is good. You should buy him a kart and let him race.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

But conditions applied for the budding karter Isack: \u201cIf you want to do something, you commit to it. But it was understood that I had to excel \u2013 otherwise they wouldn\u2019t support what had become my dream.\u201d<\/p>\n

Initially, it was dad Yassine who came to the kart tracks. \u201cHe hates mechanics, but he became my mechanic just for me. Weekends at the track, long drives \u2013 he gave all his free time to me. Then, once I started getting results, things became more serious and my mother stepped in.\u201d<\/p>\n

Randa, with her strong professional network, helped raise the budget that allowed Isack to move into single-seaters.<\/p>\n

Rising career, grounded mindset<\/p>\n

It\u2019s Randa who now follows him into the Imola paddock \u2013 always one step behind. It\u2019s Thursday, media day. But Hadjar\u2019s schedule began much earlier: simulator work on Tuesday, a team meeting in Faenza with Liam Lawson on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

Between interviews, he checks his phone \u2013 not for social media, but for football clips, MMA highlights or junior category qualifying sessions. He\u2019s a PSG fan, close friends with Fabio Quartararo and a devoted follower of many sports. Now that he\u2019s an F1 driver, some of his dreams are coming true \u2013 but he\u2019s staying firmly grounded.<\/p>\n

\"Isack <\/p>\n

Isack Hadjar<\/p>\n

Photo by: Racing Bulls<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is exactly what I dreamed of doing. The only difference is that dreams don\u2019t include the less exciting parts \u2013 like the endless travel. When I was younger, my dad used to say: enjoy the days when you\u2019re bored. I\u2019d think, \u2018What are you talking about? I want to race, play football, hang out with friends.\u2019 But now I get it \u2013 I miss those quiet days at home. The schedule is relentless. Last week I got sick; I was totally wiped out.<\/p>\n

“But when I\u2019m in the car, especially in qualifying \u2013 Q1, Q2, Q3 \u2013 I love it. You know every tenth matters, and those are incredible moments.<\/p>\n

“I wish I could live two lives \u2013 one where I\u2019m just with the people I like, and one where I just race. But I know I can\u2019t have both.\u201d<\/p>\n

The rookie who hates repetition<\/p>\n

Friday is relatively light on media. But Saturday begins with a visit to the Paddock Club. Isack leaves hospitality, as always accompanied by his media minder Andrea Saveri, walking across the paddock with headphones on.<\/p>\n

\u201cI listen to French rap mostly \u2013 but it depends on the mood.\u201d<\/p>\n

At first glance, Hadjar may come off as restless. But spend time with him and it becomes clear: those movements are part of a self-regulation system, his way of zoning in and switching on \u2013 whether for driving or a technical briefing.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know how important the technical side is,\u201d he says as he heads to the garage for qualifying. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t easy at first, but now I enjoy that part of the job. I\u2019ve realised how much of a difference you can make even outside the car. I know I have a lot of room to grow there.<\/p>\n

“I try to use my head. My dad is a quantum physicist who studied his whole life \u2013 I hope I\u2019ve inherited some of his abilities. And I\u2019ve learned that when I\u2019m on track, I\u2019m not just pushing the car \u2013 I\u2019m the primary sensor my engineers rely on.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Isack <\/p>\n

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls<\/p>\n

Photo by: Erik Junius<\/p>\n

There\u2019s one thing Hadjar struggles with: repetition. \u201cI hate it! If you make me do the same thing 200 times, I lose my mind. I like new challenges.\u201d<\/p>\n

There will be plenty of challenges ahead \u2013 but he\u2019s laying strong foundations for an enduring career.<\/p>\n

After qualifying at Imola, he doesn\u2019t hide his frustration with P9 \u2013 and not even parental encouragement helps. \u201cI could\u2019ve been fifth\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

No phone call, no confirmation \u2013 just instinct<\/p>\n

A few months ago, Hadjar wasn\u2019t even in Formula 1. Now everything is moving fast. \u201cDid I believe in it? Always! Otherwise, I wouldn\u2019t have kept racing. I always believed \u2013 even in the worst moments.\u201d<\/p>\n

There\u2019s even a funny detail \u2013 no one ever formally told Hadjar he\u2019d be racing in F1 in 2025.<\/p>\n

\u201cI never got a call saying I\u2019d be a Formula 1 driver. Let\u2019s just say Helmut doesn\u2019t like giving good news,\u201d he laughs.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo one ever said, \u2018Good morning, Isack, you\u2019re in F1 next year.\u2019 Nothing like that. But obviously, I got the sense. Only when last season ended, and I was doing a simulator session in Milton Keynes, they told me: \u2018Tomorrow, you\u2019re going to Faenza.\u2019 I asked why, and they said: \u2018Don\u2019t worry, see you tomorrow.\u2019 It\u2019s funny now \u2013 but back then, it kept me on edge.\u201d<\/p>\n

Even though the Imola race didn\u2019t go his way \u2013 he dropped from sixth to ninth due to a poorly timed safety car \u2013 Hadjar\u2019s stock continues to rise in the paddock.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat I said about junior categories still holds true: you don\u2019t always have a winning car, but I think there\u2019s always an opportunity to show something impressive, something good. That\u2019s what I\u2019ve always relied on.<\/p>\n

“But I know the time will come when only one thing matters: winning \u2013 and winning a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Isack <\/p>\n

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls<\/p>\n

Photo by: Racing Bulls<\/p>\n

In this article<\/p>\n

Roberto Chinchero\n<\/p>\n

Formula 1\n<\/p>\n

Isack Hadjar\n<\/p>\n

RB\n<\/p>\n

Be the first to know and subscribe for real-time news email updates on these topics<\/p>\n

Subscribe to news alerts<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"He arrived quietly, without fanfare, letting other rookies soak up the spotlight. Isack Hadjar became a full-time Formula…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":138452,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4103],"tags":[4199,707,4200,1085,4856,79,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-138451","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-f1","8":"tag-f1","9":"tag-formula-1","10":"tag-formula1","11":"tag-isack-hadjar","12":"tag-rb","13":"tag-sports","14":"tag-uk","15":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114585120624959413","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138451","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=138451"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138451\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/138452"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=138451"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=138451"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=138451"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}