Hadjar: Maiden F1 Podium 'Surreal' After RB Car Shows Unexpected Pace

Isack Hadjar achieved a "surreal" maiden Formula 1 podium at the Dutch Grand Prix, admitting he was surprised by the performance of his Racing Bulls car. The young driver capitalized on Lando Norris's late retirement to clinch third place, marking a significant milestone in his rookie season.

Why it matters:

• This podium finish at Zandvoort secured 15 valuable points for Hadjar, propelling him to 10th in the Drivers' standings.
• It marks a major breakthrough for the French-Algerian, demonstrating his potential and the unexpected competitiveness of the VCARB 02.

The race:

• Strong Qualifying: Hadjar started from the second row, P4, alongside Max Verstappen after a superb qualifying lap.
• Unexpected Pace: Despite not having done any long runs in Friday practice, Hadjar found surprising race pace, enabling him to defend fiercely against experienced drivers.
• Defensive Masterclass: He successfully fended off attacks from Charles Leclerc and George Russell for much of the 72-lap race, showcasing his composure under pressure. "I knew Charles would be trying to go for the move, which he did," Hadjar stated. "I was really comfortable. And on the brakes, I made sure I defended the right way."
• Opportunity Knocks: The podium seemed unlikely until Lap 65 when Lando Norris's McLaren suffered a mechanical failure, forcing his retirement and promoting Hadjar to P3.

Hadjar's reaction:

"Outstanding day, did not expect that waking up this morning; I was being very realistic," Hadjar told media. "To cross the line third is just unreal." He added, "Once I was holding him (Leclerc) for a while, I actually realised that, ‘OK, we had the car pace to fight for big points.’"

What's next:

This unexpected podium will significantly boost Hadjar's confidence and standing within the sport, proving his ability to compete at the front when the opportunity arises.