Hadjar admits he ‘needs to put it together when it matters’

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Isack Hadjar expressed a mix of optimism and frustration as he reviewed his rookie season in F1 after last Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix and ahead of the sport’s summer break.

Despite a strong start to his maiden campaign, Hadjar has endured a run of near-misses lately, including his run to P11 at the Hungaroring last weekend.

The result marked the Racing Bulls charger’s fifth consecutive race without a top-10 finish, prompting the young driver to pinpoint areas for improvement while remaining confident in his potential.

The Speed Is There, the Results Are Not – Yet

“So many positives to take,” he said in Hungary, quoted by F1.com. “The car is there, I am fast, I just need to put it together when it matters the most.

“We've been very unlucky the last few races and there's all signs to say that we're going to have a good second half of the year, I'm sure."

Hadjar qualified 10th in Budapest, but a difficult Q3 session meant he started deeper in the pack than he felt he should have, leaving him mired in traffic on a circuit notoriously difficult for overtaking.

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“This weekend just feels so unfair because the other car scored points and we've been on it the whole weekend except when it mattered yesterday in Q3,” he reflected.

“Just a very frustrating race, the pace was very strong again but I was just being backed up by slower cars.”

A Rookie Season Still Full of Promise

Despite the recent drought, Hadjar's self-assessment reveals a grounded and determined mindset. With evident speed and a car capable of top-10 finishes, he knows it’s about converting potential into points.

His consistency through practice and qualifying has shown maturity beyond his years, and as the F1 calendar heads into its summer break, Hadjar remains confident he can turn things around.

The mission for the second half of the season? Simple: deliver when it counts.

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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.