(Motorsport-Total.com) – One year after his disappointing Formula 1 debut, when Isack Hadjar put his Racing Bulls into the wall on the formation lap, the 21-year-old Frenchman returns to Melbourne. This time, however, he sits alongside Max Verstappen in the Red Bull cockpit – and expectations are significantly higher.
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Hadjar can no longer afford a mistake like last year. “To this day, it’s a race I missed, which is a shame, but it’s still a track I really enjoy,” he emphasizes, making it clear that he is not afraid of a similar debacle at this year’s opener (full schedule).
“I’ve done well in the past, which definitely proved mental strength, but I’m here to race.” Unlike last year, when points were the goal, the Frenchman with Algerian roots must now even target the win or at least the podium.
But that doesn’t seem to worry him either. “I’ve been fighting for podiums and wins since my go-kart days, so last year was actually something unusual for me,” says Hadjar. “And now that I know I have a chance for better results, that’s exactly why I’m here.”
“What happens in the first race doesn’t matter”
“That’s why I’d rather be in this position,” the Red Bull driver grins, even though the test sessions in Barcelona and Bahrain didn’t go optimally for him. Due to technical problems and a self-inflicted accident, Hadjar overall got very little running with the new RB22.
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“It wasn’t an ideal preparation for me, but I can’t change that,” says Hadjar. “I made the most of the few kilometers I could drive and worked hard in the simulator. So honestly, I’ve done my best to be as well prepared as possible for this weekend.”
“As far as battery management is concerned, it will definitely be a big challenge, but that applies to everyone.” Hadjar remains optimistic, as the testing impressions showed that he has “a good car for the races” on Sunday at his disposal this year.
But: “I don’t think we are particularly fast on a single lap. It might be a bit tricky, but honestly, what happens in the first race doesn’t matter,” adds last year’s Formula 1 rookie. “What’s important anyway is how you finish the season and how you develop in the coming years.”
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