Dutch Royalty Saves the Day: Isack Hadjar’s Broken Trophy Gets a Regal Replacement!
In a dramatic twist straight out of a Hollywood script, Isack Hadjar, the young French-Algerian racing prodigy, found himself at the center of a royal intervention after breaking his coveted trophy from the Dutch Grand Prix. The thrilling saga unfolded as Hadjar celebrated his monumental third-place finish at Zandvoort—his first-ever Formula 1 podium—only to inadvertently snap the handmade trophy in a celebratory frenzy.
Peter Bayer, the CEO of Racing Bulls, unveiled the remarkable behind-the-scenes story, revealing that none other than Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands swooped in to assist in restoring Hadjar’s honor. Bayer shared the details with Sky Sports F1 Germany, painting a vivid picture of the mishap. “Isack had placed the trophy on the ground, and I warned him, ‘Pick it up, or it might break!’ He did pick it up, but moments later, it met its unfortunate fate,” Bayer recounted, a mix of amusement and disbelief in his voice.
The royal response was immediate and heartwarming. Bayer disclosed that Prince Bernhard, a prominent figure in Dutch royalty and one of the hosts of the event, reached out without hesitation to offer his help. “He contacted us right away and said, ‘We’ll take care of this,’ and just this morning, we received the replacement trophy,” Bayer added, bringing a sense of relief and joy to the team.
Not only did Hadjar receive a new trophy, but the originals are now secured safely in the Racing Bulls operations office. “He’ll get to take those home today. It’s a lovely little happy ending to a thrilling story,” Bayer declared, highlighting the unexpected turn of events that had a fairy-tale quality.
Reflecting on Hadjar’s podium finish, Bayer expressed the magnitude of the achievement for Racing Bulls. “You can see the pure joy on the faces of our drivers and team members celebrating this victory. Our last podium was back in 2021 in Baku—this is no ordinary accomplishment for us. Perhaps a bit of luck was involved—the ‘luck of the brave,’ as they say,” he mused.
The excitement didn’t stop there. Bayer recounted a heartfelt moment when F1 legend Jean Todt called him, exclaiming that he was “literally jumping up and down” in his living room as he celebrated the team’s stunning performance against formidable competitors like Charles Leclerc and George Russell, all while keeping pace with the indomitable Max Verstappen. “This shows that our car had the pace and Isack drove flawlessly. Now, we’re eager to get back on the track and race again—hopefully with just as much success!” Bayer concluded, brimming with enthusiasm for the future.
In a world where sports often intertwine with drama and emotion, Isack Hadjar’s journey from jubilation to a broken trophy, and back to triumph with the help of Dutch royalty, is a captivating reminder of the unpredictable nature of racing and the bonds that form in the high-octane world of Formula 1.
