Hadjar: “Rumors about my future are annoying”
The French driver stated that the car issues that persisted throughout the year had affected his performance: “We’ve been experiencing issues with the suspension and car height since the start of the season. In Austin, this has now noticeably affected performance. I knew the C1 tires wouldn’t work, and that decision was the wrong one. While there were some enjoyable moments in the race, I wasn’t satisfied with the car’s performance overall.”
Hadjar also addressed the speculation surrounding his future with clarity: "Frankly, the noise surrounding my future is very annoying. Right now, I just want to focus on the next five races. Everyone keeps asking the same question, but I'd prefer it to be announced at the end of the year. Of course, I'll know before the official announcement, otherwise there's a serious problem."
When asked at the press conference if he knew he was coming, the young driver laughed and said, "You're too smart," before closing the conversation with a humorous tone. However, he remained confident about racing in Formula 1 next season: "Last year, I didn't know what was going to happen; this year, it's different. I'm much calmer now because I know I'll be in F1."
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls
Photo: Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images
Hadjar also shared his self-criticism about his performance: “I’ve always been very hard on myself. I’ve been like this for ten years. I’m only happy when I do my job perfectly. I want to have a weekend like Zandvoort because everything was on point there. I think I’ve done a good job overall this season. The results don’t always reflect my speed. I was strong in all the free training sessions; I never felt three tenths behind at the end of a session.”
Speaking about the championship battle, Hadjar said Max Verstappen is still in the race: “The gap is 40 points, but he is still in the race. I think McLaren has the quicker car, especially in race pace. But Max has great momentum and hasn't lost the fight.”
The young driver is approaching the Mexican weekend with a strategic perspective: “The tyre allocation will be crucial this weekend. Track development is high, and there's a chance of rain, which will constantly change the plans. Which tyres we use in which session will be crucial. How C2 will react is also a big question mark.”
Hadjar finally emphasized that he is happy to be working with the Racing Bulls and wants to finish the season in the best possible way: “I am very happy with my team. We need to maintain sixth place, and I owe it to them. I want to finish the season strong and look to the future with confidence.”
