Isack Hadjar’s first Formula 1 podium will be remembered not only for the champagne, and the historic milestone, but also for the unmistakable sound of… ceramic snapping in two.
The 20-year-old Racing Bulls rookie, who finished third in Sunday’s Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, ended his breakthrough day with an unforgettable blooper. While lining up with his mechanics for a team photo, Hadjar carefully set down his hard-earned prize – only to watch it split cleanly in half before his eyes.
His expression, a mix of disbelief and wide-eyed horror, quickly became comedy fodder as his crew erupted into laughter. To rub salt (or champagne) into the wound, the team sprayed their young star while he sheepishly hoisted just the top half of the trophy.
Fragile Beauty Meets Rookie Strength
Race organisers and trophy makers were quick to offer reassurances. The award, crafted by Royal Delft, is a hand-painted ceramic piece, beautiful but – clearly – delicate.
“The trophies are made of high-quality ceramic and are hand-painted by our master painters. Ceramic is a beautiful, but also fragile material: it can break if exposed to unexpected vibration or impact,” a Dutch Grand Prix spokesperson explained.
©RB
Royal Delft confirmed that Hadjar won’t be left empty-handed.
“Together with the Dutch Grand Prix, we obviously want the winner of spot number 3 to get the trophy he deserves. We are going to make a new trophy for Hadjar. When we will deliver it is not yet known, but we are working hard on it.”
And as for the shattered remains? They’re his to keep. “The broken trophy stays with Hadjar. It is also a memento of a legendary moment for him,” the company acknowledged.
A Podium to Remember
Ceramic casualties aside, Hadjar’s day was nothing short of extraordinary. At 20, he became the youngest French driver ever to stand on a Formula 1 podium and the fifth youngest in the sport’s history.
His third place also marked Racing Bulls’ first top-three finish since 2021 and only the sixth in the Faenza squad’s long journey since its Minardi beginnings in 1985.
So, Hadjar goes home with a podium finish, a replacement trophy on the way, and a broken one already immortalized as the most fragile piece of silverware – or rather ceramic – in recent F1 history. Just another day in F1 folklore.
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