Isack Hadjar laments a "catastrophic weekend" despite a turnaround in qualifying for the US Grand Prix.
Isack Hadjar believes that Red Bull can leverage its numerical edge to outpace polesitter and current championship frontrunner Kimi Antonelli at the United States Grand Prix, after bouncing back from a "disastrous" start to the weekend.
The French-Algerian racer finished just 0.036 seconds behind his teammate Max Verstappen and 0.215 seconds off Antonelli's pole time at the Circuit of the Americas, noting that a significant effort in adjusting the car's setup had made a substantial difference.
Hadjar will start third on the grid, situated behind Antonelli and Verstappen, and next to Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, who will line up in fourth.
"It's been a rough weekend for me," Hadjar stated during the post-qualifying press conference. "I've had all my lap times invalidated repeatedly. This morning, I couldn't complete a single lap on the soft tyres.
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing
"I sensed there was potential in the car because there were moments when I could manage half a lap comfortably, but I was never able to complete it. However, during that qualifying session, the car felt much better for me. We really put in the effort on the setup. We experimented with numerous adjustments this weekend, and it truly paid off.
"So, on that front, it’s incredibly satisfying. But I can’t help but feel a bit disappointed, not so much about the final lap, but more regarding my first attempt in Q3. Yes, the track conditions were less favorable on that last lap, and it wasn’t my best performance, but that was the case for everyone.
"On that initial lap, I genuinely felt I lost significant time due to the strong tailwind, and I sensed there was more speed to be had today. But overall, I’m pleased with how we recovered."
When asked if he believes he can contend with Antonelli for victory in the grand prix tomorrow, Hadjar highlighted the advantage of having two Red Bull cars in second and third positions.
"It's just the two of us, so that gives us a bit of an edge. We'll aim to capitalize on that," Hadjar remarked.
The United States Grand Prix is scheduled for Sunday, October 25.
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