Racing Bulls F1 rookie Isack Hadjar narrowly missed out on a Q3 appearance during his qualifying debut at the Australian GP. The young French driver claimed P11 on the grid, just shy of the top-10 shootout, but demonstrated impressive pace that suggests a promising future in the sport.
Impressive debut under pressure
The qualifying session at Albert Park saw Hadjar navigate the complexities of the track with remarkable composure. Despite his limited experience with low-fuel runs in F1 machinery, the Frenchman looked comfortable from the outset, easily progressing through Q1 before ultimately falling just short in Q2. He was pushing Yuki Tsunoda hard.
“I had a good feeling in Q1 and then Q2 lost a bit,” Hadjar reflected after the session in the print media zone. “I was not as happy with the balance and I really tried to push through, but it was not enough.”
What makes his performance even more impressive is how seamlessly he adapted to the qualifying format, despite this being his first experience of the high-pressure knockout system at the pinnacle of motorsport.
“Yesterday already in FP1 I was well in the rhythm quite early,” he explained. “We’ve done a lot of work and in Bahrain you have so many sets of tyres to prepare yourself. Coming here was quite natural and I could start pushing a bit more the limits and not only building the confidence but getting closer and closer to what’s possible.”
Mixed emotions missing out on Q3
While P11 represents an outstanding result for a rookie in his first qualifying session, Hadjar couldn’t hide a tinge of disappointment at missing Q3 by such a small margin.
“P11 I would have signed for it, of course, but it’s not like I did the best lap ever and I failed,” he admitted. “I know where I lost the lap time so that’s why I’m a bit frustrated but all in all it’s a really, really good day.”
This honest self-assessment demonstrates the high standards Hadjar has set for himself, despite his rookie status. His ability to identify where time was lost suggests maturity beyond his years and bodes well for future qualifying sessions as he gains more experience.
While Hadjar narrowly missed Q3, his teammate Yuki Tsunoda delivered a shocking result by qualifying fifth, ahead of both Ferrari drivers. This performance from the RB team was one of the biggest surprises of the session, particularly given their midfield status in recent seasons.
When asked about the encouraging performance and what it means for their season prospects, Hadjar remained cautiously optimistic.
“Melbourne is really particular. It’s not an equaliser but it’s quite close. I think if we go to Spa I think it’s going to be a bit different, but it shows that we worked really hard since Bahrain. We improved a few stuff, we understood the car better so it’s really positive and P5 is massive.”
Rain could create opportunities
With weather forecasts suggesting potential rain for Sunday’s race, Hadjar faces the prospect of his first Formula 1 race taking place in challenging conditions. Despite having some wet weather testing experience, he acknowledges the nervousness surrounding racing in the wet.
“There is a degree of nervousness, of course, because I’ve never raced those cars in wet conditions like with other cars around me,” he confessed. “It’s going to be a bit stressful but there are other rookies on track out there. But yeah, it’s just my instinct. There’s not much experience I can use right now. Only instinct and this one.”
Nevertheless, the rookie sees potential opportunities in challenging conditions, saying, “The upside is that there will be opportunities. Of course, the more chaos, the more opportunities.”
Points on debut?
Starting just outside the top ten, Hadjar finds himself in prime position to challenge for points on his debut at the Australian GP. When asked how it would feel to score in his first race, his answer revealed the competitor within.
“If I get points without doing anything special, it will feel okay. But if I get points by really fighting it hard out there, then it’s going to feel amazing,” he said.
