Rising talent Isack Hadjar climbed from P14 to P10, showcasing sharp strategy and racecraft in a tough Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Isack Hadjar pulled off a solid performance at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, finishing 10th after starting from 14th on the grid. The Racing Bulls rookie made the most of an alternate strategy, climbing through the field, but ultimately couldn’t get past the Williams duo of Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon, who held their ground until the end.
“Two against one was tough,” Hadjar said post-race. “But I’m really happy with how it went. Just like in Japan, there wasn’t much more we could do. Starting 14th on a different strategy, getting a strong first lap—everything clicked.”
He sensed the opportunity early on. “As soon as I got through the opening laps, I knew there was something to play for. But when I came out of the pits behind the Williams cars, I knew it would be tricky. At first, I was catching Alex and thought I could take P8 easily. But in the end, we probably would’ve finished the same way. I gave it everything.”
The Frenchman was also surprised by the team’s form over the weekend. “Usually, we’re better in qualifying and struggle in the race. This time it was the opposite, so we need to figure that out.”
Liam Lawson crossed the line 11th but was bumped down to 12th after receiving a post-race penalty. The New Zealander admitted his start didn’t go to plan.
“I didn’t get away cleanly and ended up off track, which was frustrating because the car had pace,” Lawson explained. “We spent the whole race in traffic—no matter what we tried, we couldn’t catch a break. It’s a shame.”
Despite the setback, Lawson saw the positives: “This was the most comfortable I’ve felt in the car all season. I know we can score points if we put everything together. We just need a clean weekend.”
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Hadjar Impresses with Bold Drive to P10 in Jeddah Hadjar Impresses with Bold Drive to P10 in Jeddah
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