Isack Hadjar achieved a career-best P4 qualifying for the Dutch Grand Prix, describing how he was "lucky" to avoid a "horrible" gust of wind that could have ruined his stunning performance.
Why it matters
Starting fourth on the grid at Zandvoort, Hadjar outdid his previous best of fifth in Monaco. He will begin the race alongside world champion and home favourite Max Verstappen, narrowly beating Mercedes' George Russell to secure a spot on the second row. This result significantly boosts his profile within the F1 feeder series.
The details
Qualifying at the coastal Zandvoort circuit was heavily impacted by high winds. Hadjar explained that his success was partly due to fortune in avoiding a sudden, derailing gust.
- "I am quite satisfied with what I did, and the car was exactly like I wanted, it was responding really well, especially on the final lap," Hadjar told media.
- "Probably, we got a bit lucky with the wind gusts, but I pulled out an amazing lap, and it sticks because the car was great."
- He described the feeling of being hit by a gust: "It is honestly a horrible feeling when you're in the car and you're being hit [by a gust of wind], you can lose up to two-tenths in a single corner, so it is very annoying."
- "You need to be lucky, and I didn't get unlucky."
His perspective
Hadjar considered this his best lap of the year, emphasizing the difficulty of the Zandvoort track.
- "It was surely the best lap I've had this year, because this is a very hard track, really demanding, and I put it all on the line, especially in the final corner. I thought I did pretty well to gain a tenth, and it was special."
This outstanding qualifying performance positions Hadjar for a strong race, showcasing his skill under challenging conditions.