0.168 Seconds, that’s how much Isack Hadjar came up short for a point during last weekend’s Miami GP. The Racing Bulls driver tried to capitalise on a pitlane speeding penalty for Yuki Tsunoda. Unfortunately he made too many mistakes according to himself.
“I had the gap difference live and I just gave it everything, but it was not really enough,” Hadjar summarises his efforts in the final stages of the race.
“One tenth over 25 laps or more on the hard. I don’t know how many laps we’ve done but quite a lot. It was definitely a tenth over all these laps, but you know, it’s how it is.
“Yuki maybe made a few mistakes on his side but most important is that I feel like I’ve made too many. And that cost me the top ten.”
According to himself, Hadjar pushed beyond the limits in what ultimately was a qualifying lap to round up the Miami GP.
“Throwing a tenth here and there over 30 laps is easy to do,” he explains. “And that’s what I’ve done on that last lap.
“I knew I was within 5 seconds so it was clearly a qualifying battle with him and I just wanted too much and made a few mistakes.”
Hadjar still in the learning process
The Formula 2 graduate started of the season with a DNS after crashing out during the formation lap in Melbourne in wet conditions, so a careful approach was taken during the rain-affected sprint on Saturday. All part of the learning experience, Hadjar feels. However, despite a well-executed strategy he remained disappointed about the Miami GP result. More so since it is not the first near-miss this season.
“[It is frustrating,] but it’s good to [fall] outside the top ten and showing pace than being nowhere near the top ten.
“[I’m] still in the learning process. Yesterday was my first lap on inter-tyres, properly, took it easy. Today a new scenario with how the race went down, I think we nailed the strategy, the pit stop was good. I think it was well executed but I’ve made a few mistakes.“
