The F1 Belgian GP proved to be a huge disappointment for Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar. The No. 6 car had shown strong pace throughout the weekend – from Practice 1 through to Qualifying, Hadjar’s performance was consistently positive, even securing a point in the Sprint race. However, a car issue on Sunday severely hindered his race. Starting from P8 on the grid, the French rookie had realistic hopes for a points finish, but instead he dropped to the very back of the field, while his teammate Liam Lawson managed to secure 4 valuable points for Racing Bulls.
Robbed of points because of technical issues
Hadjar didn’t hide his irritation as he openly explained that the car issue was entirely out of his control. He had been running in P8 early doors before gremlins appeared.
“I had a problem with the car. I just can’t say much, but it’s very, very frustrating. It makes me not competitive, and losing quite a bit of time every lap consistently. And I was aware of it, and I did my best. It was super painful, especially on a track like this.”
No chance to fight
Hadjar’s race was compromised from as early as lap 4, as he started losing ground. The technical problem proved costly throughout and intensified with each passing lap.
“Very early in the race, like the first few laps, and then all the remaining. Quite costly, and much more at the end.”
Disappointed by a pace that had shown promise, the Racing Bulls rookie was left puzzled by the unfolding situation. Still, he made it clear that even if he had been P1 with a 20-second gap, it would have changed nothing.
“There was no chance to fight. Even if I started way ahead, I would have been caught and overtaken. The pace has been super strong the whole weekend.”
What could have been
Hadjar’s frustration was only amplified by teammate Liam Lawson’s result. Starting behind the Frenchman, Lawson brought home points for Racing Bulls – highlighting what could have been, had Hadjar’s car not let him down.
“What happened today makes no sense. Where Liam ended up makes a lot of sense.So it’s a shame for the team to miss on a double-point finish.”
Encouraging pace despite the F1 Belgian GP debacle
Despite the setback, the performance of the VCARB 02 at Spa offers encouragement for the rest of the championship. If Racing Bulls can sustain this pace, the team stands a solid chance of securing the coveted fifth spot in the Constructors’ Championship, with Hadjar poised to add more points to his tally.
“It’s good. I needed a weekend like this,” lauded Hadjar. “It didn’t end the way we wanted, but we had a tough run,” continued the French driver.
“We are aware it happens over a very long championship. The goal is to get back up and understand and improve. That’s what we did here,” he concluded.
Despite Hadjar’s issue, the Belgian GP brought a welcome shift in momentum for Racing Bulls after both cars retired in Silverstone.
“We turned it around really well. We are confident for Budapest,” claimed Hadjar.
Smooth race management
Looking back at the race’s opening phase, Hadjar observed that drivers maintained considerable gaps during the rolling start following the safety car period, a cautious response to the slippery, damp track conditions. While he suggested that a more assertive approach on spacing and pace might have offered chances to gain positions, he emphasized that overall the situation was handled well.
“I think we completed the first four laps. The race was well managed. Visibility was great when we restarted. Maybe we could have taken less margin, but definitely we handled it well.”
Hope remains for the championship
Racing Bulls has been through significant upheaval this season – changes in driver line-up, a new team principal, and some difficult weekends. Despite Isack Hadjar’s mechanical setback at Spa, there is genuine hope and momentum building for the team moving forward.
