Hadjar names F1's 'best and fastest' in tribute to his racing heroes

In a sport where milliseconds define legacies, rising Racing Bulls talent Isack Hadjar has added his voice to one of Formula 1's most enduring – and futile – debates: Who is the greatest driver of all time?

The French-Algerian racer, who is nicely carving out a name for himself in his debut season among motorsport’s elite, didn't shy away from splitting hairs when discussing two of F1’s most iconic figures.

Appearing on F1’s Beyond The Grid podcast, the 20-year-old offered a nuanced take that separates greatness from sheer speed.

While many fans and pundits often lump the two attributes together, Hadjar drew a distinct line between consistency, craft, and raw pace. And in doing so, he paid tribute to the legacies of both drivers, each of whom inspired him in very different ways.

His verdict? Lewis Hamilton gets the nod as the most complete driver Formula 1 has ever seen. But when it comes to outright speed and qualifying genius, no one, in Hadjar’s view, touches the late, great Ayrton Senna.

The Best All Round Driver

Hadjar’s admiration for two titans of the sport offers a fascinating glimpse into the mind of a 21-year-old driver navigating the modern F1 landscape.

His thoughtful analysis reflects not just a racer’s perspective but a fan’s passion, shaped by YouTube clips, documentaries, and the awe-inspiring legacy of his idols.

"If you look at [Hamilton] until last year on Sundays, for me, it's all about his race pace - like how he can start from the very back and end up racing George, you know, and fighting him when he’s starting 18th and George is starting ahead.

“It's just this race pace advantage he had on his team-mates.

"When he was with Valtteri as well, the way he was overtaking and when he was in the pack, he was always having this different approach. His different lines, avoiding dirty air.

"If there's like this train of DRS cars and everyone is within, say, six-tenths gap between each other, he would have a three-tenths gap to the car ahead of him. I think his Sunday drive is… yeah, mighty."

The Fastest of All Time

While the Racing Bulls driver shared his admiration for Hamilton's race pace, he claimed Senna was “the fastest driver of all time,” as proven by his incredible qualifying performances.

“Senna, for me, is the fastest driver of all time,” Hadjar continued. “I think the best driver of all time is Lewis Hamilton - the best Formula 1 driver - the whole package. But the fastest is definitely Ayrton. Whether it’s rain, dry, or mixed conditions, it's Ayrton Senna.”

Hadjar’s admiration for Senna runs deep – so much so that he introduced a Senna-inspired helmet design at this year’s Monaco Grand Prix, a fitting tribute at the most historic and glamorous stop on the F1 calendar.

“Yeah, I think kids my age – that's the only thing we had really: documentaries, films, clips on YouTube,” Hadjar continued, speaking about how his admiration of the Brazilian F1 icon began.

“And just with that small amount… he was my idol growing up.

“I discovered Senna with that one [the documentary 10 years ago]. I was like six, and I didn’t know he died, I didn’t know who Senna was. So I was learning his story through the documentary. And when he died, I was completely broken.”

As Hadjar continues his own journey up the Formula 1 ladder, his thoughtful reflections on the sport’s giants show a driver who not only understands the present – but deeply respects the legends who shaped its past.

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