In a positive start to the Canadian GP, the VCARB team find themselves confident ahead of qualifying after successful practice sessions for Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar in Montreal.
The Racing Bulls have not had the season they have wanted, as Williams dominates the midfield with 16 points ahead of the Racing Bulls.
However, Liam Lawson appeared happy and confident after Friday, and believes the team will have a good showing in Canada.
“I think it’s positive, it’s close as usual at the moment. I think personally it’s been a fun day, it’s a cool track, it’s been a place I’ve wanted to come to for a long time, so yeah, I enjoyed it.
“Just very very close, we need to keep pushing the limits and finding every bit of speed we can.”
Isack Hadjar, who has scored the majority of the points for VCARB, finished FP2 in 11th place, behind fellow teammate Liam Lawson.
But after a disruptive FP2 for the Frenchman, Hadjar believes they have the speed, as he said:
“Yeah, I think it’s fast. We are competitive straight away since this morning. It was a messy session in FP2, but I think we have a good lead for tomorrow and I’m quite confident.”
A “tough” Qualifying ahead
Despite both drivers believing and remaining optimistic about their speed and ability to perform, both of the VCARB drivers are also staying grounded about the qualifying ahead.
When Lawson was asked if he was expecting a fight in Q1 and getting into Q3, the Kiwi was honest about what could happen.
“Yeah it’s tough here, at the end of the day it’s, I mean especially in Q1 as you said, it’s going to be one of those things, it’s a hard track to manage that, just quite a small circuit, but yeah it’s something that we’re all on the same boat, we have to deal with it.
“I mean the car’s been very very strong recently, so as long as we keep chasing the balance through the weekend like we are, then yeah, I think it’s possible, but let’s see tomorrow.”
But Hadjar believes it is a snowballing effect after the form they showed in Monaco, with both drivers securing Q3, with Hadjar in sixth position and Lawson in ninth position and believes VCARB can do it again in Montreal.
“Q1 is gonna be tough, but then you make it to Q2, it’s a bit easier, and Q3 it’s even more easy, so that’s our target. So far, we’ve dealt with it quite well. We’ve done it in Monaco, so it should be should be reasonable here.”
Hadjar continued about the achievability of both cars reaching Q3, but understood how the track poses a threat, as he said:
“Yeah, I think that’s realistic, and I think that’s our goal. It’s a very small track, so the gaps are gonna be. I think every car is gonna be within one second, so any mistake you make, then you’re out, but if you put it together, that’s the target.”
Possible Red Bull call up for Hadjar?
Isack Hadjar continues to turn heads in his rookie Formula 1 season with Racing Bulls, but despite speculation about a potential promotion to Red Bull, the young Frenchman remains calm and collected.
His strong early-season form has caught the attention of many within the paddock, yet Hadjar himself admits he’s not quite ready for such a leap though he’s intrigued by the idea.
The 20-year-old stepped up to Formula 1 with VCARB at the start of the 2025 season, following an impressive run to second place in the 2024 Formula 2 championship. Since then, he has steadily earned respect with a series of promising performances, bouncing back from a tough debut in Australia and demonstrating notable growth over the opening nine rounds.
Speaking to the media in Montreal ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix, Hadjar addressed the growing discussions about a potential move up the Red Bull ladder. He acknowledged both the scale of the opportunity and his own hesitations to the role.
“It’s a bit scary. I wouldn’t feel ready,” he said. “I’m just nine races in and it looks to be complicated when you look at Yuki and Liam, who are very quality drivers, so no, I’m not very ready – but I would always be up for the call that’s for sure.”
