Racing Bulls driver Isack Hadjar has mastered the transition from Formula 2 to Formula 1 well – but why did he have to adapt to using the radio?
The cold start in Melbourne was a disaster, as we all know, but since then Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar has delivered strong performances and is making a convincing case for himself in his first year in Formula 1. Before embarking on his adventure in the premier class, the 20-year-old was plagued by self-doubt as to whether he was really ready for it, as Hadjar revealed on Thursday before the Miami Grand Prix:
“I thought to myself: Maybe Formula 1 is too fast for me. And yes, it’s a really big jump from F2. But in the end, it wasn’t that extreme. So everything is going according to plan,” said the Racing Bulls driver, delighted with his successful debut – even though he had ‘no specific expectations,’ he has achieved his first milestone of making a positive impression.
However, Hadjar does not want to claim that Formula 1 is easier than he thought: “No, it was difficult. I still remember the first few days. I thought: ‘This is damn fast,’” “I just needed a few laps, a few days of testing. But then I was ready. Still, it was really challenging: 15 seconds per lap faster than in F2. That’s a big step. But we got there, and I’m happy about that.“
”Silent” Hadjar: ‘In F2, you pay to drive’
However, another difference between Formula 1 and Formula 2 for him is the use and control of the radio: “It’s just a different world from Formula 2. In F2, you pay to drive – in Formula 1, you get paid to drive. So you can’t shout around,” says Hadjar.
Although he admits: “Many do it anyway. I still shout – I just don’t press the radio button anymore. But I still yell.” For him, it’s simply an outlet that provides “relief” in stressful situations: “I like it that way, it helps me,” explains the 20-year-old.
Hadjar does not want to predict how much he will have to shout in Miami this weekend because the track does not suit the car on paper – mainly due to the high track temperatures in Florida: “We had a strong qualifying session in Japan recently – and since then it has been difficult, we need to keep working on it,” says the rookie, who is also aware that cooler conditions help the Racing Bulls.
However, he is also focusing particularly on the slow sector in Miami: “There’s a lot to be gained in terms of the car’s handling, especially how the bumps feel,” believes Hadjar: “You set your lap time in the slow corners – it depends on how you brake and how much speed you carry through the corners.”
The Racing Bulls driver is clear: “It’s definitely going to be challenging, especially in terms of the tires—we’ll have very high track temperatures during qualifying. So it’s going to be a real challenge.”
