Isack Hadjar falls short in Miami: “I didn’t play smart”

There were points to be had… and they vanished in the blink of an eye. Isack Hadjar had a frustrating race in Miami, cut short on the sixth lap after a mistake he fully owns up to.

The Red Bull driver, who had gotten off to a good start despite launching from the pit lane, had begun a solid climb through the field. The pace was there, and so were the passes. Until that one move too many at the entrance to the chicane: contact with the inside wall, a broken suspension, and a car sent straight into the barriers.

A mistake that is unforgiving at this level, especially on a street circuit where the slightest misstep comes at a heavy price.

In the heat of the moment, the Frenchman made no excuses, as he is traditionally hard on himself: “I'm angry because I had the pace and was making up ground easily. I'm throwing points away stupidly; I'm very frustrated, and on top of that, I damaged the car, so that counts too…”

A weekend on a knife's edge

Because the conclusion is clear: the performance was definitely there. In a lively race, marked in particular by Gasly's spectacular crash and the numerous battles in the pack, Hadjar had a real shot at finishing in the points.

But in Formula 1, risk management often makes the difference. And on this point, the rookie admits he crossed the line: “All weekend, I was on the edge; I was comfortable with that edge, and this time it didn't work out.”

A very mature insight from the young driver, but also a brutal reminder of the demands of the sport: “I wasn't precise enough, I took too many risks, and in a 57-lap race, it's normal that at some point things will go wrong. I wasn't smart enough.”

A frustrating retirement, but also a learning experience. In Miami, Hadjar learned the hard way that speed isn't always enough. We hope he'll be back in top form for Canada, with that fighting spirit we know he has.