Isack Hadjar on Verstappen: “Max knows all the secrets of the track”

At last he can really put his foot down again! Following his wrist injury, Red Bull Racing driver Isack Hadjar can finally push himself to the limit on the race track. He’d taken a cautious approach to his comeback race in Baku that weekend. Step by step, as he himself emphasised. The risk of a crash on the tight street circuit was simply too great. But now, in Sepang, he can finally go all out again.

An open circuit – pushing to the limit

Ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix, which is being held this year – as a one-off – at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia, Hadjar said: “With this track layout, you have to go flat out right from the start. It’s an open circuit; there are virtually no walls, so you can push to the limit much earlier. In Baku, on the other hand, you end up in the barrier if you go over the limit, which is why I took it step by step.” Naturally, he was determined to avoid a crash at all costs on his comeback after a three-race break. The risk of injury was simply too great! In Baku, however, he still managed a strong third place – his third podium finish in F1.

Hadjar on the Sepang weekend: “This weekend is back to completely normal for me. I’ll have to take risks right from the start.” And it sounds as though that’s exactly what he’s been longing for after such a long break from racing.

Hadjar is competing in his second season in Formula 1. Sepang was last on the F1 calendar in 2017. Consequently, the Frenchman is not yet familiar with the circuit from actual races, but only from the simulator. His Red Bull Racing team-mate Max Verstappen, on the other hand, knows the track inside out. He is the most recent winner in Malaysia. In 2017, the Dutchman secured his second ever F1 victory here.

The cars have changed significantly since then. Nevertheless, Verstappen’s expertise is helpful. Hadjar: “He knows all the secrets of the circuit. Even though I’ve been practising on the simulator – when it comes down to it in real life, it’s always different. There are always things you can’t simulate. Having him in the team as the most recent winner is definitely an advantage. A small one, perhaps, but definitely an advantage, and I’m making the most of it.” Hopefully with another top result for both team-mates.

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