Isack Hadjar Responds to Helmut Marko’s ‘Embarrassing’ Comments

After a crushing F1 debut crash, Hadjar found comfort in Lewis and Anthony Hamilton’s support—while Helmut Marko dismissed his reaction.

Isack Hadjar has revealed that Lewis Hamilton sent him a message of support following his dramatic crash at the Australian Grand Prix.

The French driver, making his Formula 1 debut, lost control of his Racing Bulls car during the formation lap at Albert Park, crashing out before the race had even begun. Caught off guard by the slippery white lines, Hadjar was devastated, keeping his helmet on as he returned to the paddock—clearly shaken by the incident.

As he walked through the paddock, he was met with unexpected support from Anthony Hamilton, Lewis Hamilton’s father. Speaking about the encounter ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix, Hadjar described it as a “special moment,” especially considering that Lewis Hamilton is his childhood idol.

The 20-year-old also revealed that Lewis himself reached out after the race, calling both Lewis and Anthony “really classy guys.”

“He told me it reminded him of when Lewis parked his car at the pit entry in Shanghai. It was a really nice moment to share, especially with someone like Anthony, who came back later to talk to me at length. He’s the father of my idol, after all.”

“It was truly special, and later that day, Lewis also messaged me. They’re both really classy guys.”

Hadjar Reacts to Marko’s ‘Embarrassing’ Comment

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko was less sympathetic, calling Hadjar’s emotional reaction to the crash “a bit embarrassing.”

When asked about Marko’s comment, Hadjar didn’t hold back in his response.

“I actually found it embarrassing too,” he said with a smile. “But you know Helmut. I spoke to him on the phone the next day, and everything is fine. I’ve known him for a few years now.”

“I understand how he operates, and I think he was speaking in German. Maybe things got lost in translation, and body language can sometimes be misinterpreted. I haven’t even seen the footage.”

“There’s not much more to say. But honestly, aside from all the love and support I received from fans and the public, I wasn’t expecting anything like that after crashing my F1 car. So it was really nice to have that backing.”

Bouncing Back in China

Hadjar has since put the disappointment behind him and is focused on the next race.

“I’d say by Monday, I was already feeling much better. We’ve got back-to-back races, so I need to reset quickly. There’s no time to dwell on it for a month.”

His teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, impressed in Melbourne by qualifying fifth and was on course for points before a late pit stop cost him. Despite his crash, Hadjar remains optimistic about the team’s performance.

“I think we were surprisingly quicker than expected, especially compared to Bahrain. It’s always hard to judge pace in testing—teams hide their true speed.”

“But before Melbourne, the car felt really strong, and from FP1, I had a great feeling with it. I was quite comfortable and stayed as close to Yuki as possible. So, in terms of pure performance, there were a lot of positives to take away.”

Now, with a fresh mindset, Hadjar is eager to prove himself in China.

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Hadjar Hits Back at Marko After Brutal F1 Debut Crash Hadjar Hits Back at Marko After Brutal F1 Debut Crash