Isack Hadjar Slams Sprint Format After Nightmare Singapore GP

Red Bull's Isack Hadjar has fundamentally changed his stance on Formula 1's sprint weekends after a disastrous outing at the Singapore Grand Prix. A combination of severe mechanical failures and setup struggles left the French driver feeling powerless to improve his RB22's performance throughout the weekend.

Why it matters:

The frustration highlights a growing tension between F1's push for entertainment and the technical requirements of the drivers. For a sophomore driver like Hadjar, the reduced practice time in sprint formats eliminates the margin for error, turning a challenging weekend into a technical nightmare when the initial car setup is off the mark.

The details:

• Performance Gap: Hadjar struggled from the start, trailing teammate Max Verstappen by seven-tenths in FP1 due to severe bottoming issues in the braking zones.
• Reliability Nightmare: The weekend was plagued by a sequence of failures: engine issues in SQ3, a power unit failure in the sprint, a broken fourth gear in qualifying, and further powertrain trouble in the main race, where he finished 10th.
• Setup Constraints: Hadjar argued that the single practice session makes it impossible to remedy handling woes, stating that success in this format becomes a matter of "luck" rather than technical work.

The big picture:

Hadjar's shift in perspective reflects a maturing approach to the sport. While he previously enjoyed the adrenaline of sprints, he now views the format as a hindrance to professional development and technical optimization, especially when competing against a high-performing teammate who sets a high benchmark.

What's next:

With the F1 calendar set to expand to 10 sprint weekends by 2027, the controversy is likely to intensify. Hadjar specifically questioned the logic of introducing a sprint race in Monaco, arguing that the lack of overtaking opportunities on the street circuit makes the format redundant and disappointing for both drivers and fans.