Racing Bulls driver Isack Hadjar looked rapid across qualifying at the F1 Singapore GP. Unfortunately, a mistake cost the Frenchman a chance to start in the top 5. Hadjar will start the race from P8.
Hadjar made a mistake in Turn 8 during his final flying lap of Q3, aborting the run. Visibly frustrated, Hadjar hit his steering wheel several times following the session. This follows a difficult qualifying in Azerbaijan, where Hadjar similarly lamented a mistake costing him a higher grid position.
Hadjar: “I made a mistake”
Hadjar spoke to print media, self-critical of his performance during qualifying at the F1 Singapore GP, “I don’t know if you guys watched the TV, but I haven’t finished my lap, so I made a mistake.
“Turn 8, I lost the car and that was it.”
Despite starting within the top 10, Hadjar appeared to have doubts about the Racing Bull’s race pace. Last year, VCARB struggled for pace and both cars finished outside of the top 10. However, Daniel Ricciardo managed to set the fastest lap.
This year, Racing Bulls have almost doubled their points-scoring total from 2024. Hadjar managed to score the team’s first podium since 2021 in Zandvoort.
Hadjar spoke sarcastically about his hopes for tomorrow’s race, “I start [P8]. I’m on the dirty side as well, so it’s awesome.
“Our race pace, we have no clue. We haven’t done a single long run, so I think the target is just to finish [P8].”
Dirty side of track “too penalising”
Hadjar expressed concerns about starting on the dirty side of the track at the F1 Singapore GP. Tyre marbles and dust accumulate on the dirty side of the track across the race weekend.
“It’s too much penalising, that’s for sure.
“I’ve tried both sides in [Free Practice]. There’s a clear difference, so I hope they take the most of those machines to clean the track. Otherwise, it’s for sure going to be the same.”
Hadjar continued, “On the street circuit, it’s been pretty bad on the inside line. Baku was the case as well. Budapest was the case.”
Hadjar not optimistic for F1 Singapore GP
When asked if he was optimistic for tomorrow’s race, Hadjar simply responded, “No.”
Last year’s F1 Singapore GP was the first not to feature at least one safety car or yellow flag. At a track where it’s notoriously difficult to overtake, Hadjar expects little action to occur.
“Apart from Turn 1, Lap 1, if there’s no incident then I think everyone can keep it on the track. It’s not a qualifying session, it’s a race.
“I hope not, but I think it’s going to be a pretty smooth race.”
