Isack Hadjar expressed frustration after an incident with Carlos Sainz in Formula 1 qualifying at the Italian Grand Prix led to the Frenchman’s first Q1 exit of 2025.
Despite coming off the high of a podium last weekend in the Dutch Grand Prix, this weekend has taken a turn with Hajdar suffering his worst qualifying result yet.
Hadjar and Sainz were part of the consistent traffic expected in Monza, with both drivers looking to get out on track for their final attempts to secure a spot in Q2.
As Hadjar went to leave the pits, the Sainz moved ahead of the Racing Bulls, forcing himself into the fast lane, though the Williams driver soon let his rival through.
But Sainz remained attached to the Racing Bulls’ gearbox during their out-laps, causing Hadjar to complain on the radio as he had to circulate faster than desired.
Hadjar relented late in the lap and allowed Sainz through, but the poor preparation meant that he was unable to string together the time required to advance to Q2.
“Why does Sainz have to be so annoying? Who the hell does an out-lap, a warm-up? I mean, what was he doing?”, Hadjar said on the radio.
“He’s just playing around to just let me by like s**t.”
The issue ultimately was the run plan that Williams had chosen to use, with Sainz being put through an out-lap and a warm-up lap prior to attempting a timed run.
The peculiar run plan garnered confusion from Hadjar even after the session.
“He was just super annoying on the out-lap,” Hadjar told told media including Motorsport Week.
“He was not going to push anyway, so I don’t know why he was fighting so hard for track position and to then just let me buy on my lap.
“So I’m compromised on the out-lap for nothing, and yeah, later on I made a mistake.”
Hadjar admits penalty compromised approach
Hadjar conceded that going into qualifying knowing that he was going to incur a penalty due to an engine change had a negative impact on his approach and mindset.
“But honestly, all of that doesn’t matter, because I’m starting last tomorrow,” he continued. “I hate going into qualifying knowing anyway that I’m starting last tomorrow.
“I like having pressure going into qualifying. And this was just wrong.”
Given his impending penalty, Racing Bulls’ new floor was allocated to team-mate Liam Lawson. Yet, even without that, Hadjar suspects he could have reached Q3.
The rookie was also quick to criticise his own performance in qualifying, especially his slight mistake in the middle sector that cemented his premature elimination.
“It’s the first time in Q1 so much happened, everything goes wrong, and I also made a mistake also,” he acknowledged.
“If I’m starting in the top 10, we have a shot at points. But we can’t overtake 10 cars on pure pace and with a good strategy,” he added. “It doesn’t happen.”
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