Hadjar admits to ‘nightmare’ qualifying after Q2 exit in Austria

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Isack Hadjar’s failure to join the top ten shootout in Saturday’s Austrian Grand Prix qualifying was a shock for the Racing Bulls charger, and the culmination of a “nightmare” session for the Frenchman.

Hadjar had enjoyed a promising start, ending Q1 with the eight fastest time but it all went backwards from that point on for the F1 rookie who will launch his race on Sunday from P13 on the grid.

Speaking after the session, the 19-year-old was at a loss to explain his car’s dramatic loss of pace between Q1 and Q2.

"I don't know, my Q1 lap would have qualified me for Q3, so I don't know how we can go backwards from that," he said.

"Tons of understeer in high speed, tyres not ready for Turn 1, just a nightmare. I think we were very consistent on tyre warm-up, we nailed the traffic, so it's deeper than this."

Hadjar, who has turned many heads with his outstanding performances in his debut season in Formula 1, currently sits 10th in the drivers' standings, remained optimistic about the team's direction despite his Saturday setback.

"We're not far off and we have new tyres left at least, so that's a positive," Hadjar said.

"Yesterday we were not in a good position, we turned things around overnight with a lot of changes on the car, and it paid off."

Lawson Shines with P6 Start

While Hadjar struggled, his Racing Bulls teammate Liam Lawson delivered his best qualifying performance of the season with a strong P6 result.

"Feels like it's been a long time, so it's really cool to obviously have a good quali," Lawson said.

"Obviously with everything going on behind the scenes over the last couple of races, everything's felt really good, honestly.

"I've felt really good, and we've done a lot of work on the car and on my side as well just to make it more comfortable for me.

"It's been there, it just hasn't shown. So it's nice to show it today, but obviously tomorrow is also the important day."

With Lawson looking ahead to a strong race and Hadjar seeking redemption, Sunday’s event at the Red Bull Ring will hopefully offer a fresh opportunity for the Racing Bulls duo to make their mark.

Austrian Grand Prix - Qualifying results

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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.