MELBOURNE, Australia — Isack Hadjar has no lack of confidence going into his debut season at Red Bull Racing, regardless of having arguably the most tough journey in Formula 1.
On the eve of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, the 21-year-old French driver stated he expects to win a race in his first season with the workforce whereas squaring up towards teammate and four-time world champion Max Verstappen.
It appears incongruous for him to say it, given Hadjar is simply going into his second season of F1 and Red Bull would not seem to have a significant tempo benefit heading into Sunday’s race at Albert Park in Melbourne.
To add to Hadjar’s problem is that Verstappen has gone by means of 4 teammates in about 15 months.
One of them, Sergio Pérez, stated in January that being Verstappen’s teammate was “the worst job there is in Formula 1.” Pérez was beside Verstappen for 4 years at Red Bull earlier than being dropped at the finish of 2024 with two years left in his contract. Pérez is returning to F1 this 12 months with new team Cadillac.
Still, Hadjar is placing the off-track speak apart, saying the workforce is about to shock everybody with the tempo of the RB22 automobile.
“I would say I’m confident in our race car, what we can do in the race, a bit less probably on one lap pace,” Hadjar advised The Associated Press in an unique interview. “But if we’re going to surprise people it’s definitely in a good way.”
Hadjar stated he was shocked by the competitiveness of Red Bull’s new energy unit, an endlessly advanced technical undertaking.
“I was very happily surprised with the reliability and driveability of the engine,” Hadjar stated. “I know that I can’t make engines, but I know what it requires to make something smooth to drive. And to do it in 3 1-2 years, start the project so late and (then) make it so well is so impressive.”
Also spectacular is Hadjar himself, who got here again from an embarrassing formation lap crash on debut throughout final 12 months’s Australian GP to rating factors at 10 of 24 races, together with a 3rd place at the Dutch Grand Prix, the fifth-youngest podium finisher in F1 historical past.
Hadjar will even profit from having the identical workforce boss, Laurent Mekies, who additionally made the step from Racing Bulls to change Christian Horner at Red Bull final 12 months in the aftermath of Horner’s exit in the days following the British Grand Prix final July.
“Yeah, it’s good, not much change for me,” Hadjar stated. “I know him (Mekies) quite well, made my debut in F1 with him, we had some very good moments. So, it’s good not to step into unknown territory, so it’s good to keep going on the way I started F1.”
One change Hadjar has made is vital — a geographical one. He moved from Faenza, Italy the place he was shut to Racing Bulls to London to be nearer to Red Bull Racing’s Milton Keyes operation. He’ll want all the assist he can get to tackle Verstappen in the identical workforce.
As all the time, Hadjar is assured and looking out ahead to the problem.
“I’m just happy, at my age, to be able to see what it’s like to be next to the best driver on the grid,” Hadjar stated, “with the same material and see what I can do, and just learn from him.
“Yeah, I’m simply pleased. And fortunate.”
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AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
