Happy Hadjar hails ‘perfect race’ at Suzuka and first points

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Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar earned the first championship points of his fledgling F1 career on Sunday by finishing P8 in the Japanese Grand Prix — an achievement he credited to the execution of a “perfect race.”

The 20-year-old Frenchman overcame on Saturday a discomfort issue in the cockpit of his VCARB 02 that nearly derailed his qualifying efforts, although he ultimately managed to secure an impressive P7 on the grid, equaling his best starting position in F1.

Fortunately, his seatbelt problem didn’t return on race day, and Hadjar was able to focus fully on delivering a strong performance over the 53-lap event at Suzuka.

“It was a perfect race honestly,” he said afterwards. “It’s the first time this year [I’ve been] really happy.

“Even yesterday I felt I left some on the table but today, absolutely nothing so I’m really happy with the drive.”

Redemption After Strategy Woes

Hadjar’s P8 finish, over three seconds clear of Williams’ Alex Albon, marked a significant step forward for the RB apprentice after two difficult races in Australia and especially in China, where a gamble on a two-stop strategy failed miserably.

At Suzuka, however, the team’s race execution was faultless.

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In Japan, Hadjar also comfortably beat his new teammate Liam Lawson, who returned to Racing Bulls this weekend after a mid-season seat swap ordered by Red Bull Racing with Yuki Tsunoda.

The New Zealander, who previously contested 11 Grands Prix across 2023 and 2024, could only manage 17th place on Sunday.

Eyes on Bahrain: Confidence Growing

Looking ahead to the second race of the season’s first triple-header in Bahrain, Hadjar feels optimistic about the team’s form across a variety of conditions.

“I think the first three races have shown that we have a good car in all conditions and corners and every type of track,” he explained.

“So I think in Bahrain we’ll still be up there, even though testing was not the best but it gives us a lot of confidence.”

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Hadjar’s first points in only his third F1 race signal a promising trajectory, while his “perfect race’ in Suzuaka stands out as a solid foundation for next weekend’s round of racing at Sakhir, where he aims to build on his momentum.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.