Hadjar hails ‘best lap of the year’ after stunning Dutch GP qualifying

Racing Bulls’ rookie sensation Isack Hadjar delivered a breathtaking performance in qualifying for the Dutch Grand Prix, clinching an astonishing fourth place on the grid with what he called his “best lap” of the 2025 season.

The 20-year-old Frenchman, one of the standout debutants this year in F1, pulled off a stunning 1:09.208s lap in the final moments of Q3 at Zandvoort, securing a spot on the second row for Sunday’s race.

However, Hadjar emphasized the need to stay pragmatic against his quicker rivals in the race, including fellow bull and local hero Max Verstappen.

A Breakthrough Lap in Q3

Hadjar’s path to fourth was anything but straightforward. Throughout the qualifying session, his Racing Bulls teammate Liam Lawson appeared to hold the upper hand, outpacing Hadjar in both Q1 and Q2. As Q3 progressed, Lawson’s seventh-place time seemed to cement his advantage.

But the 20-year-old, undeterred, unleashed a sensational final flyer, vaulting up the order to claim fourth. Reflecting on the moment, he credited the car’s setup for his confidence and performance.

“To be honest, the car [was] exactly like I wanted,” he explained. “It was responding really well, especially on that final lap.

“Probably, we got a bit lucky with the wind gusts. I don’t know, we need to look at the data. But yeah, I pulled an amazing lap and it sticks because the car was great.”

His excitement was palpable over the team radio, and afterward, he elaborated on the significance of the lap.

“It’s probably the best lap I’ve had this year because it’s a very hard track, really demanding,” Hadjar said. “And I put it all on the line, especially that final corner. I thought I did pretty well there to actually gain one more tenth. And yeah, that was special.”

A Strategic Approach for Race Day

Starting just behind Verstappen, Hadjar is realistic about the challenge ahead, especially as the four-time world champion, a perennial favorite at Zandvoort, will benefit from starting on the clean side of the grid.

“I mean, he’s starting on the clean side of the grid,” Hadjar noted. “He has great starts usually. So actually, I expect him to probably overtake a car ahead, if anything.”

Despite limited practice mileage on Friday, Hadjar remains optimistic about his race pace. Drawing confidence from Lawson’s strong performance in practice, he believes the Racing Bulls car is well-suited for the demands of the race.

“I haven’t experienced it, obviously. We limited mileage yesterday, but looking at Liam, he was pretty fast yesterday,” he said. “The car is healthy. It’s fast on one lap, so it will be fast on many more laps.”

• Dutch Grand Prix - Qualifying results

However, with faster cars lurking behind, Hadjar knows defending his position won’t be easy. The Zandvoort circuit, with its long straight and early DRS zone, favors overtaking.

“To be fair, I don’t think it’s really difficult to overtake here,” he admitted. “Looking at how long the straight is and the DRS zone starts very early, so if they have more pace, they will overtake. And that’s it. We need to accept it and be smart.”

Hadjar’s measured approach underscores his maturity as a rookie. With a stellar starting position and a competitive car beneath him, the young Frenchman is poised to make waves on Sunday – if he can navigate the challenges of his rivals with the same brilliance he showed in qualifying.

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