Isack Hadjar walked away from the 2025 F1 Imola GP with two points in hand and a handful of what ifs.
A P9 finish marked his third points-scoring race of the season. While a solid result on paper, it left the French rookie with a tinge of disappointment after the race that once promised much more.
After qualifying ninth, Hadjar’s start saw him fall to 11th. Speaking after the race, he explained, “I think the launch was good. It was the second phase of the start, I Iacked a bit of traction.
“And yeah, that was it. I was fighting hard with Pierre. I was still holding on to P9 and fighting with him. I lost a place to Charles [Leclerc], so, yeah, it was not ideal.”
Hadjar rues strategy misfortunes at F1 Imola GP
Despite the drop, a strong strategy brought him back to contention as the race unfolded, at one point running as high as seventh. “Yeah, there was a point where we were at P7, and I thought we were bringing it home,” he said, reflecting on his turning point.
“It’s a shame about that last safety car, because I think our strategy was perfect.”
The decision to pit during the safety car period ultimately compromised his position. Hadjar admitted he wasn’t entirely convinced by the call at the time. “Of course, I didn’t want to come in, but also because I didn’t have the global picture of the race. So I had to trust the guys,” he said.
“But now we’ll see if it was the right choice. I don’t think it was.”
Racing Bulls have room for improvement
Despite the challenges, Hadjar still took away positives: “We took points, started P9. I wish we were moving forward.”
While the Racing Bulls’ package seemed to suit the technical demands of the F1 Imola GP, Hadjar remained cautious about calling it a strong weekend.
“Conditions were quite tricky. The car was definitely… It’s never been that good, but at the same time, it was maybe a bit more tricky.”
He did relish the company he was racing with, think Ferrari and Mercedes: “It’s positive, but the Williams are looking a bit too fast. That’s the frustrating bit.
“But on track, it’s definitely fun to race those guys.”
