Promising French driver Isack Hadjar, affectionately known as ‘Petit Prost,’ is stepping into the thrilling world of Formula 1 this season, racing for the Red Bull-affiliated team, Racing Bulls. This comes after an impressive comeback in the 2024 F2, where he surged from an initial slow pace to clinch the runner-up position, just half a point behind Brazilian driver Gabriel Bartoleto.
Hadjar’s promotion to F1 was a roller coaster ride. After a sluggish start to the 2024 F2 season, he was spurred on by Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko. The young Frenchman admitted to PlanetF1.com during the pre-season testing in Bahrain that he was close to writing off his F1 dreams. But as the championship progressed, and he began leading, his hopes were rekindled.
The turning point came towards the end of the F2 championship. The optimism around him became palpable, and after the final race in Abu Dhabi, he got the call from Marko to sign his contract. The first person he shared the news with was his mother, his self-proclaimed ‘best manager.’
Hadjar’s relationship with Marko is professional and based on mutual respect for directness. Even though they hadn’t spoken in over two months, Hadjar appreciates Marko’s no-nonsense approach.
Despite his successful F2 campaign, Hadjar believes the series falls short in preparing drivers for F1 due to the stark difference in car performance. He felt more benefit came from his F1 reserve role for the two Red Bull teams and driving the RB20 in FP1 at the British and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix.
When asked about the ideal training ground for F1, he acknowledged the benefits of F2 but pointed to Japan’s Super Formula as a potentially better preparatory series.
The ‘Petit Prost’ nickname, a nod to the four-time F1 World Champion Alain Prost, came after a shrewd victory in the Australian Sprint race. Hadjar embraces the moniker, and like his namesake, he is known for his analytical and intelligent approach to racing.
However, one area Hadjar needs to work on is his team radio communication. His tendency to vent his frustrations over the radio, akin to his teammate Yuki Tsunoda, has not been well received by the team.
Heading into his rookie F1 season, Hadjar is aware of the challenges. He not only has to prove himself against his experienced teammate Tsunoda, but also keep an eye on the emerging Red Bull junior, Arvid Lindblad. However, Hadjar remains undeterred. He doesn’t have a fixed goal in mind, other than to harness the potential of his car to the fullest and do what he’s been doing since he was six – drive.
Isack Hadjar’s F1 debut promises to be a captivating journey. Not only does he bring a fresh wave of French talent to the grid, but he also carries the hopes of an entire generation looking to shake up the established order. His calm, analytical approach may just be the secret ingredient that propels him to the top echelons of the sport.