Isack Hadjar had a solid but quiet run to P8 on the road at the F1 Las Vegas GP. However, the disqualification of both McLaren cars bumped him up two spots in the final classification.
From P8 on the grid, he took advantage of a crazy first corner to jump ahead of Alonso, Piastri and Lawson. In the early stages he was applying pressure to Carlos Sainz and was inside DRS for 4th. Unfortunately for the French driver, he could not sustain it.
Later in the stint he was passed by Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri as the Racing Bulls ultimately fell away on race pace.
On the hard tyre, he had solid pace but could not touch Carlos Sainz in the best of the rest battle as he finished 10s adrift of the Spanish star. A P8 was a solid result, even if the pace was not spectacular. P6 in the end was more valuable points in the Constructors’ Championship.
Isack Hadjar reacts to his race at the F1 Las Vegas GP
Frustrated by yellow flags in Q3 on Friday that potentially cost him a third row start, Hadjar explained post-race in the print media pen that no more was possible in the Grand Prix.
“Happy with my race. Nothing more we could have done. We were just a bit slow.”
Asked if a better result was possible if he started on the third row, he believes even taking off from pole would not have made a difference.
“No.
“I think even if we started on pole we would have finished 8th. That was our place today. No regrets.
“I think we played it a bit too safe on the tyres, tyre management.
“But on the strategy, nothing we could have done better. I take it.”
Pushed on if the set-up protected the tyres too much on race day, Hadjar agreed with his assessment.
“Yes, definitely.”
Isack Hadjar satisfied following a good points haul at F1 Las Vegas GP
Alongside maintaining his place in the top 10 in the Drivers’ Championship, Hadjar’s P6 moved Racing Bulls 17 points clear of Haas in the fight for 6th in the Constructors’ Championship with two rounds remaining.
“No, it’s good.
“I don’t know what it gives me in the championship standings but it’s 4 points.
“It’s good for the team. For the 6th place in the Constructors’ I think we are solidifying it a lot. So it’s good.”
Following criticism of the F1 Las Vegas GP circuit and/or schedule by the likes of Fernando Alonso and Ollie Bearman, Isack Hadjar says he liked the weekend because of the good job Racing Bulls did.
The rookie is confident his team will be even more competitive in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
“I enjoyed it because I was competitive. I think we’ve done a very good job since FP1.
“No mistakes. Not a single mistake. Very, very positive weekend.
“We just need a bit more pace but I know it will come in Qatar and Abu Dhabi. These tracks will suit our car better.”
