Isack Hadjar Secures Sixth Podium for Faenza's F1 Team
French racer Isack Hadjar recently secured his maiden Formula 1 podium, marking the sixth time the Faenza-based team, known today as Racing Bulls, has stood on an F1 podium in its 40-year history.
Why it matters:
The Faenza team, F1's other Italian squad alongside Ferrari, has a long history of battling championship Goliaths. Their journey from humble beginnings as Minardi to becoming a race winner showcases perseverance and a knack for seizing chaotic opportunities.
The big picture:
Debuting as Minardi in 1985, the team has undergone four name changes – Minardi, Toro Rosso, AlphaTauri, and now Racing Bulls. Despite not having the championship pedigree of Ferrari, they've consistently carved out moments of glory, especially in unpredictable races.
The Podiums:
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2008 Italian Grand Prix: Sebastian Vettel's Breakthrough
- The details: Minardi, rebranded as Toro Rosso, achieved its first F1 win and podium in a chaotic wet-weather race at Monza. Sebastian Vettel, starting from pole, delivered a dominant performance, becoming F1's youngest-ever race winner at the time.
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2019 German Grand Prix: Daniil Kvyat's Return
- The details: In its final year as Toro Rosso, the team returned to the podium thanks to Daniil Kvyat's ambitious drive in a rain-soaked German Grand Prix. Starting 14th, Kvyat capitalized on strategic tire calls and numerous incidents to finish third.
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2019 Brazilian Grand Prix: Pierre Gasly's Sprint to Second
- The details: Another chaotic race saw Toro Rosso claim a third podium. Pierre Gasly, after a series of safety car periods and late-race collisions involving front-runners, held off Lewis Hamilton in a thrilling dash to the finish line, securing second place.
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2020 Italian Grand Prix: Pierre Gasly's Home Victory
- The details: Now as Scuderia AlphaTauri, the team celebrated a home victory at Monza. Pierre Gasly benefited from a perfectly timed pit stop during a safety car period and capitalised on a penalty for Lewis Hamilton, fending off Carlos Sainz to secure his first F1 win.
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2021 Azerbaijan Grand Prix: Pierre Gasly's Final AlphaTauri Podium
- The details: This race is remembered for Lewis Hamilton's restart error, but it also marked AlphaTauri's final podium. Pierre Gasly, after Max Verstappen's dramatic tire failure, held his nerve against Sebastian Vettel and Sergio Pérez in a red-flagged restart to finish third.
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2025 Dutch Grand Prix: Isack Hadjar's Debut Glory
- The details: The team's sixth podium came at its 736th F1 race under the Racing Bulls name. Isack Hadjar, after qualifying on the second row, maintained his position throughout the race. When Lando Norris retired late on, Hadjar was promoted to third, successfully navigating a safety car restart to claim his maiden F1 podium, silencing doubters in his rookie season.