Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar is excited for the F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after a difficult weekend in Bahrain, where the team struggled to match their early-season form.
Speaking to the media ahead of the F1 Saudi Arabian GP, the French driver reflected on the previous race’s challenges while expressing optimism that the street circuit in Jeddah would better suit his car’s characteristics.
“I think it was definitely not as good as the last two weekends, even Melbourne,” Hadjar said of the Bahrain performance. “It’s a bit of an outlier, Bahrain, because track temps and a really different tarmac, there’s no grip, and you don’t feel like you’re driving a Formula 1 car there.”
Despite the disappointment, Hadjar remains encouraged by the underlying pace shown during qualifying, suggesting the results could have been better with improved execution.
“I still had the car that was able to go to Q3 with a better lap, so still not too bad,” he explained. “And then definitely on Sunday, we had a tough lap one and from there the race was pretty much over. I still think it was not as bad as it looked, but I want to believe that Jeddah is going to suit us way better.”
Embracing the speed of Jeddah
Now preparing for his first F1 appearance at the Saudi Arabian GP, Hadjar is eager to experience the dramatic increase in performance compared to his previous visits in Formula 2.
When asked about approaching the Saudi circuit in an F1 car, which is approximately 14 seconds per lap faster than an F2 machine, Hadjar acknowledged the significant adjustment period at each new venue.
“Every track I go to in FP1 is always impressive the first time because your last reference is from Formula 2, so it’s always a bit of a shock the first few laps,” he said. “But to be fair, now I’m up to speed. But yeah, I’m definitely looking forward to this track, especially Sector 1. It’s going to be exciting.”
Hadjar’s lessons in F1
Now heading into his fifth race weekend in Formula 1, Hadjar was asked about the biggest lessons he’s learned during his rookie season so far. His response came with a touch of humour, hinting at his issues during the Bahrain GP.
“Make sure the belts are tight!” he quipped, before clarifying, “Yeah, not too tight.”
When pressed for additional insights, he added, “Watch out for white lines. This kind of stuff. That’s all – details.”
Rookie camaraderie ahead of the F1 Saudi Arabian GP
The 2025 Formula 1 season has seen an unusual influx of rookie talent, with six first-year drivers on the grid. Ahead of the F1 Saudi Arabian GP, Hadjar expressed appreciation for having fellow graduates alongside him during his debut season.
“On my side, having five other rookies on the grid is nice because of the atmosphere,” he explained. “I know them already since karting, most of them, and when you race them on track, you know what to expect because you have this experience from the lower categories.”
This familiarity provides a level of comfort and predictability during on-track battles that might not exist with more established competitors.
“Now it’s definitely way better than if I was the only rookie on the grid — that’s for sure,” Hadjar concluded.
