Isack Hadjar experienced significant tyre problems during the Canadian Grand Prix on Sunday, causing his Racing Bulls team’s midfield challenge to suffer a setback. Despite earlier strong performances, difficulties with tyre degradation prevented Hadjar from advancing, demonstrating the team’s ongoing struggles in managing race pace at this event.
Tyre Challenges Undermine Hadjar’s Race Strategy
Hadjar, starting from 12th position after a three-place grid penalty for impeding another driver, quickly found his race compromised by severe tyre wear. The early signs of rapid tyre degradation forced him into a premature pit stop and a long stint on a one-stop strategy while caught in heavy traffic, which limited overtaking opportunities.
Reflecting on the race, Hadjar admitted,
“I had high tyre degradation on the medium. We opened the front left very early, very sudden, and the pace was just very poor. In the end, it was quite easy to overtake, and I didn’t stand a chance. That’s it.”
—Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls
He also shared his ongoing battle to find confidence in handling the car all weekend, saying,
“Since the start of the weekend, I’m struggling to get a handle on the car. Confidence is very low, even in qualifying. P9 was okay, but I pulled out that lap fighting the car. And over 70 laps, I can’t do it.”
—Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls
Despite having a faster pace at warmer circuits like Barcelona, Hadjar expressed confusion about the Canadian race difficulties:
“I don’t know. Barcelona was warmer than this, and we were fast, so it’s not the temperature.”
—Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls
Liam Lawson Also Hampered by Tyre and Mechanical Issues
Hadjar’s teammate, Liam Lawson, faced similar tyre struggles in qualifying, starting 19th on the grid. Opting for a fresh power unit and starting from the pitlane, Lawson lacked the speed to compete in the midfield pack. His race was ultimately cut short when a cooling system issue forced his retirement on lap 53.
Team Principal Acknowledges Performance Shortcomings
Racing Bulls’ team principal Laurent Mekies acknowledged the tough day for the squad, citing tyre problems and mechanical failure as factors behind their disappointing results.
“The hard fact is that we didn’t have enough pace today to fight in the top 10,”
Mekies stated.
“Isack suffered high graining on his tyres during the first stint on the mediums and sadly we had to retire Liam’s car due to an issue in the cooling system.”
—Laurent Mekies, Racing Bulls Team Principal
Mekies also highlighted the fierce nature of the midfield battle, explaining how minimal differences in pace can determine a team’s position:
“It’s a tight battle in the midfield and even only one tenth can make the difference, and it was enough to drop back instead of attacking forward.”
—Laurent Mekies, Racing Bulls Team Principal
Despite the setback, Mekies pointed to the team’s history of progress following difficult weekends, suggesting a learning curve ahead:
“Looking back at the last few months, every single improvement we’ve made as a team has been made after tough weekends like this one in Canada.”
—Laurent Mekies, Racing Bulls Team Principal
Midfield Rival Teams Gain Ground Before Upcoming Austria Race
Racing Bulls’ rivals in the midfield continued to score points in Canada, intensifying competition before the European summer races. Williams maintained a narrow lead with 55 points, while Haas and Racing Bulls are now tied for sixth place with 28 points each. Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso’s seventh-place finish moved his team to eighth, just six points behind, and Sauber also reached 20 points ahead of next weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix.
