Isack Hadjar finished fifth in the Canadian Grand Prix, but his race was marred by penalties and discomfort with the car. Despite a strong start, he faced challenges with penalties and car handling that overshadowed his best finish of the season.
Isack Hadjar managed to secure his best finish of the season by coming fifth in the Canadian Grand Prix, yet the Frenchman’s weekend was far from smooth sailing. Despite finishing behind Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, the narrative of his race was punctuated by costly penalties and a car that was more of a handful than a helping hand.
The race began promisingly for Hadjar, as Red Bull made the strategic call to start him on soft tires, a decision that paid off initially. He even managed to leapfrog Leclerc during the pit stops, a maneuver that briefly placed him ahead of the Ferrari driver. However, this is where his troubles began. Attempting to fend off Leclerc's advances, Hadjar was penalized for a late defensive move that saw Leclerc take an unplanned detour onto the grass. The stewards handed Hadjar a 10-second penalty for the maneuver, which he later admitted was "a bit stupid."
Hadjar's struggles didn’t end there. A stop-go penalty was awarded to him for not slowing down adequately under yellow flags. Despite these setbacks, the pace advantage he held over the midfield meant that his position wasn't threatened, and he maintained fifth place, albeit a lap down on the leaders.
Reflecting on his performance, Hadjar confessed that he felt uncomfortable in the Red Bull, describing it as "hard to drive." His discomfort was a stark contrast to his performance on Saturday, where he had felt in control and competitive during the Sprint and Qualifying sessions. "I didn’t feel comfortable at all in the car," Hadjar said, noting the difference in handling compared to the previous day.
Despite these missteps, Hadjar found some solace in his overall performance improvement compared to previous races, like Miami. He noted that the car setup, although challenging, was a step forward. "The car was very fast but hard to drive compared to [Saturday]," he explained. With Monaco on the horizon, Hadjar is hopeful that the team can maintain this momentum, building on the positive aspects of the weekend.
While the penalties ultimately curtailed any chance of challenging Leclerc for fourth, Hadjar's weekend wasn't devoid of positives. He managed to close the gap to his teammate Max Verstappen, showcasing a notable improvement in pace.
As Hadjar heads to Monaco, he’s aiming for consistency and hoping for a car setup that inspires confidence. If he can replicate the feeling he had on Saturday, there’s every chance we might see him fighting further up the grid.