Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar relished qualifying amongst Formula 1’s front runners in China, believing it shows the team’s “potential is really high” in the series.
Hadjar showed amazing promise during his F1 debut in Australia, qualifying 11th before his heartbreaking exit on the formation lap.
On Thursday in Shanghai, the Formula 2 vice-champion said he quickly dusted himself off and was grateful that a back-to-back presented an opportunity to put things right immediately.
Hadjar banished his Australia demons on Saturday, not only out-qualifying team-mate Yuki Tsunoda, but firmly placing himself in the top 10 with the seventh fastest time – in the middle of a Ferrari/Mercedes sandwich.
“To be with the big boys is definitely a good feeling,” Hadjar told select media including Motorsport Week.
“It shows the potential is really high.”
Despite the incredible result, the exuberant Hadjar wasn’t satisfied.
“At the moment, at the stage of my career, putting everything together on the final Q3 lap is the hardest exercise for me,” he said, adding “So I need to work a bit on that.
“I think the best feeling I had was in Q1 with the car,” Hadjar explained.
“And then in Q2 I think the wind was just changing a bit. I could never find the same balance, so I was struggling a bit more with the car. And I knew what I was losing.
There was more lap time, more positions to gain.”
Hadjar cites area for improvement
Looking ahead to Sunday, Hadjar cited another area he needs to improve upon.
“I think if I can get my start improved, just like Yuki, then I think I have a good shot at staying around where I am at, he said.
“Of course, the goal is to score points. [My start in the Sprint] was not amazing, I had a few issues. I know what to improve.
“You can practise it every morning. I think, in my head, I have a good start.”
Racing Bulls praise Hadjar after qualifying heroics
Hadjar the hungry rookie may have been looking for ways he could’ve improved upon seventh in qualifying, but his Racing Bulls team-mates were glowing in their praise of the 20-year-old.
“He did a really good job,” Tsunoda exclaimed.
“He bounced back [from Australia] really strong.
“Big credit to him, even in a week he has brought back his confidence. Happy to see that and keep supporting him and we progress as a team together.”
Tsunoda even agreed he was surprised by Hadjar’s pace so early into his F1 career.
“In hindsight, yeah, surprised a little bit, but especially when I see Bahrain test, he was probably not as fast as this and I think he made a step from Bahrain test and so far he seems to have made a good step,” he said.
“Yeah, this is how he goes and I think we’re quite excited for the team that we have a good potential to maybe have a really good successful season.”
Racing Bulls Racing Director Alan Permane added: “It’s great to see Isack put the words of Melbourne behind him with a really solid performance.”
After Tsunoda ensured it was a double top-10 appearance for Racing Bulls in qualifying, Team Principal Laurent Mekies couldn’t be happier.
“The whole team has done a mega job here in Shanghai over the past two days, with Yuki and Isack on top of their game,” he said.
“Qualifying this afternoon was a good confirmation of the pace we showed so far this weekend, and it’s great to see both Isack and Yuki in Q3 in such a competitive field!”
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