Isack Hadjar, the Racing Bulls Formula 1 driver, voiced his disappointment after a challenging Azerbaijan Grand Prix at the Baku City Circuit, where he finished in 10th place. Despite starting the race in eighth position and overcoming a hydraulic issue before the race, Hadjar admitted to a costly error that affected his overall performance.
Technical Problems and Race Setbacks
Before the race began, Hadjar faced a hydraulic problem during the reconnaissance lap. Fortunately, his team managed to repair the issue on the grid in time.
“Hydraulic issues. They fixed it and I was fine,”
Hadjar confirmed after the race. However, the advantages were short-lived as race conditions grew more complicated following a crash by McLaren driver Oscar Piastri, which triggered a yellow flag. Although Hadjar initially overtook Lando Norris off the start, he ultimately lost two positions to Charles Leclerc and Norris once the race resumed under green flag conditions.
Mistakes on the Kerbs Lead to Lost Ground
Hadjar was clearly upset about his mistake on the track’s kerbs, which cost him crucial positions early in the race.
“Yeah, I mean, it’s a shame because I felt good on the medium, on the very first lap I overtook Lando. I felt good and I did a repeat of yesterday on that kerb and I lost two places straight away to Charles and Lando,”
he said, expressing his frustration. Despite recovering some pace on the hard tires and closing the gap to leading drivers, the mistake proved costly.
Reflection on Performance and Conditions
Hadjar admitted that the error was particularly aggravating because he had already made a similar misstep during qualifying in windy conditions, describing the sensation of riding the kerb as “skateboarding.” He elaborated,
“Yeah, I’m just mad because I didn’t really take the wind into account. And I did a repeat today that p***es me off even more.”
Reflecting on what might have been, Hadjar suggested that the mistake probably didn’t cost him any positions overall but was still unacceptable given the stakes.
“There’s a probability we would have finished at the same position. I don’t think it would have changed the race. It’s just that it could have changed the race and I did this mistake. That’s what p***es me off. In important moments, I can’t allow myself to make mistakes like this.”
Team Performance and Overall Race Results
Meanwhile, Hadjar’s teammate Liam Lawson delivered a strong performance by starting third and finishing fifth, securing valuable points for Racing Bulls. Addressing whether a podium could have been within reach, Hadjar remained realistic:
“I think Liam did a perfect race, and he only finished fifth from third, so I don’t think it would have been possible,”
adding,
“Williams are faster, Mercedes are faster.”
The race winner was Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who dominated from pole position, with Mercedes’ George Russell and Williams’ Alex Albon completing the podium finishers.
Implications for Hadjar and Next Steps
Isack Hadjar’s costly mistake at Baku underscores the fine margins in Formula 1 racing and the impact of split-second decisions under pressure. As he continues to develop in the sport, minimizing such errors will be critical for his progress. The Baku Grand Prix experience serves as a reminder of the harsh realities drivers face and highlights Hadjar’s urgent need to adapt to varying track conditions to maximize future race outcomes.
