Hadjar's Surprise P4 at Zandvoort: "Special Lap" Puts Him Alongside Verstappen

Isack Hadjar delivered a surprising performance in Dutch Grand Prix qualifying, securing his best-ever Saturday result by qualifying P4 in Zandvoort. He will start from the second row of the grid, lining up alongside four-time world champion Max Verstappen.### Why it mattersHadjar's strong showing marks a significant improvement from previous qualifying sessions, particularly after expressing dissatisfaction with his Hungaroring performance. This result highlights his potential and the growing competitiveness of the Racing Bulls car.### The details* A "special lap": Hadjar described his P4 qualifying lap as "very happy" and "quite satisfied," noting the car "was exactly like I wanted." He called it "probably the best lap I've had this year" on the demanding Zandvoort track.* Verstappen's advantage: Despite starting next to Verstappen, Hadjar doesn't expect to overtake the Dutchman. "He's starting on the clean side of the grid. He has great starts usually. So, actually I expect him to probably overtake a car ahead, if anything," Hadjar stated.* Race pace outlook: Hadjar expressed confidence in the Racing Bulls' race pace, citing teammate Liam Lawson's performance and the car's overall health. "It's fast on one lap, so it will be fast on many more laps," he added.* Overtaking strategy: Hadjar acknowledged that Zandvoort offers overtaking opportunities due to the long straight and early DRS zone. He emphasized the need to "accept it and be smart" if competitors show more pace.### What's nextHadjar will start P4, ahead of George Russell, Charles Leclerc, and Lewis Hamilton. His primary goal will be to convert this strong qualifying into valuable points, managing the pace against more experienced drivers and defending his position on a track known for its challenges.