Formula 1 newcomer, Isack Hadjar, owned up to his post-crash emotional response during the Australian Grand Prix, a behavior that had been described by Red Bull advisor, Helmut Marko, as “embarrassing.” In a candid conversation with Austrian broadcaster ORF, Marko had been rather forthright about Hadjar’s reaction following the crash, stating that the young driver did “a little bit of crying.”
Hadjar’s reaction had drawn wide-ranging support from fans and peers alike, especially since the incident occurred during the formation lap of his debut F1 race. However, in the lead-up to the Chinese Grand Prix, the Racing Bulls driver clarified his relationship with Marko and assured that they share a good rapport.
“I found it embarrassing myself,” Hadjar confessed. He went on to add that he had interacted with Marko a day after the incident and their relationship was unaffected. “I’ve known him for a few years now. I know how he works,” he added.
Hadjar also highlighted that Marko’s comments, which were originally in German, could have been misinterpreted when translated. “You don’t know about the body language. I didn’t see the footage, so I can’t [comment],” he explained.
Despite the embarrassment, Hadjar felt overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from fans and followers. “I did not expect that at all when I binned it in the wall. So that was nice,” he expressed.
The F1 rookie also shared a heartfelt moment with Anthony Hamilton, father of legendary racer Lewis Hamilton, who consoled him post the crash. “It reminded [Anthony] of Lewis actually parking the car at the pit entry in Shanghai. It was a nice moment, sharing time with someone like Anthony, obviously the dad of my idol,” Hadjar nostalgically recalled. He also mentioned receiving a supportive message from Lewis Hamilton himself, a gesture he found profoundly classy.
Despite the emotional rollercoaster following his debut crash, Hadjar was quick to bounce back, focusing on the upcoming race in Shanghai. “I would say on Monday already, I felt quite a lot better, especially knowing that it’s a back-to-back weekend. I’ve got to run it back quite early, not having a month to dwell on it,” he concluded, displaying a resilience that is quintessential to the high-pressure world of Formula 1.
