Hadjar to receive replacement Dutch GP trophy after smash hit

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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.

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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.

Read also: ‘Little Prost’ shines but Marko keeping Hadjar’s future unclear

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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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.