Isack Hadjar on the podium in his comeback race: “A bit like the first one”

What a comeback! Isack Hadjar hadn’t been behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car for almost two months – and then he comes back with ease to claim a podium finish. As if nothing had ever happened, the Frenchman put in a superb, commanding performance. This race is now firmly etched in Hadjar’s personal history books.

Let’s take a quick look back: during the summer break, Isack Hadjar injured his wrist and missed the first three GPs after the break. It wasn’t until just before the Azerbaijan GP that it was confirmed: he was fit again. On the day of preparations ahead of the Baku race, Hadjar and Red Bull Racing also announced the contract extension for 2027. And now Hadjar is standing on the podium too. What a week!

A comeback at just the right time

Hadjar: “I’ve come back at just the right time, both in terms of the injury and in terms of how the car is performing. I wasn’t too happy in Budapest. And now I can tell it’s taken a step forward.” Budapest was his last race before the summer break.

Wrist OK

Hadjar: “I took it easy over the weekend because it’s a very demanding circuit and I didn’t want to end up in the barrier. It was the right approach that got me here. It doesn’t get much better than this.” Any problems with his wrist? A decisive “No” and a shake of the head from Hadjar.

It’s his third Formula 1 podium after Zandvoort in 2025 with the Racing Bulls and Monaco this year with Red Bull Racing. But it feels a bit like his first with the team – in Monaco, he’d moved up following a penalty for Gasly, only to lose the podium on administrative grounds and then finally get it back.

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Hadjar: “The Monaco podium was a podium, but not down to pure pace. This is now the first time I’ve had a clean weekend with the team and fought my way onto the podium. So it feels a bit like my first proper podium. And it gives me confidence for the next few races.”