During the qualifying round for the GP of Japan, Isack Hadjar clocked the seventh fastest time. This was an impressive achievement for the French-Algerian driver, who finished well ahead of his teammate Liam Lawson and Red Bull debutant Yuki Tsunoda. However, his qualification was marked by complaints over the radio – issues with his seat were causing him problems. Between sessions, his face could be seen contorted in pain.
The television broadcast showed Isack Hadjar looking extremely uncomfortable during the qualification. It turned out that his safety belt was too tight – a problem that could be fixed between sessions. Amid all the struggles on the track, Hadjar feared he would crash, but after an ‘incredible’ lap in Q1, he eventually secured the seventh starting position.
‘A Nightmare’
“It was a nightmare,” Hadjar responded afterwards. “I’m not exaggerating at all. But I made it, so I’m really proud of myself. The lap I drove in Q1 was truly incredible. By the third turn, I was already thinking, ‘Okay, this isn’t going well.’ I almost crashed.” He barely qualified for Q2, only to outperform teammate Liam Lawson and former teammate Yuki Tsunoda. He also managed to stay ahead of his idol, Lewis Hamilton. “I was in a bit of pain, but I just tried to focus on driving fast. That seemed to work.”
“Q1 and Q2 were okay, although I’m still not satisfied with everything,” the Racing Bulls driver explained. “Every lap we drove, we improved the balance and the setup. In my last lap, the car really came to life. I couldn’t have gone much faster.” Hadjar, who debuted in Formula 1 this year, is proud that he was able to maximize in Q3. “In that last lap, you just know, ‘I have to step it up and hope it goes well.’ That requires a lot of concentration, but I was more focused than ever. It was quite brave to take that extra step.”
