Key Highlights
- Isack Hadjar endured a frustrating Sprint Qualifying at the Singapore Grand Prix, qualifying in P9 after battling engine problems and a car he described as not “driveable”.
- While Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen secured pole position for the Sprint at Marina Bay, Hadjar suffered a track limits violation that saw his lap time deleted in SQ3.
- Hadjar noted that strong initial confidence during Free Practice 1 on the hard tyre failed to translate into competitive performance on the softer compounds.
Frustration for Isack Hadjar in Marina Bay Sprint Qualifying
Isack Hadjar experienced a challenging Friday at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, ending Sprint Qualifying for the Singapore Grand Prix down in ninth place. The 22-year-old French driver saw his initial momentum disappear over the course of the day, culminating in a deleted lap time in the final phase of qualifying (SQ3) for exceeding track limits.
The outcome stood in sharp contrast to the other side of the Red Bull garage. Off the back of Max Verstappen sealing his and Red Bull’s first victory of the season last time out in Malaysia, the four-time World Champion again showcased dominant form by taking pole position for the Sprint. Hadjar, meanwhile, found himself struggling to extract pace from his package as track conditions and tyre compounds evolved.
Engine Issues and Handling Woes Hamper SQ3
Reflecting on the steep decline in performance from the morning session to competitive running under the lights, Hadjar conceded that the day unravelled unexpectedly. Reflecting back on what had happened, the 22-year-old said: “Yeah, I don’t know. It’s just what seemed like a good start of the day turned into really a very poor performance. I don’t know.“I felt very comfortable straight away in FP1 but on the hard compound, and that was it, really. I never got to have a good lap, really.
“I’m just fighting with the car, I had engine issues on the last run. I [was] just struggling. I don’t know, it’s just weird.”
The difficulties were compounded by tyre management strategy earlier in the day. Hadjar did not run the soft tyre during the weekend’s sole practice session, meaning his first taste of the compound came during the high-stakes qualifying rounds. When questioned about whether the lack of soft-tyre preparation left him immediately off the pace, the Frenchman explained that the added grip did not solve his underlying mechanical challenges.
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“No, I don’t know,”
he answered. “The soft definitely feels like a huge step to the medium compound.
“There was a lot more grip, but it didn’t really matter anyway – all the other guys were on the soft as well. I just don’t feel like it’s driveable right now.”
Why This Matters
On a tight, unforgiving street venue like the Marina Bay Street Circuit, driver confidence and mechanical stability are crucial for stringing together clean laps. With Max Verstappen converting Red Bull’s recent momentum into Sprint pole, Hadjar’s engine setbacks and handling complaints highlight a stark intra-team discrepancy. Starting from P9 on a circuit where overtaking is notoriously difficult poses a significant challenge for Hadjar to score points in the Sprint, putting extra pressure on the team’s mechanics and engineers to diagnose the power unit glitches before the main events unfold.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did Isack Hadjar qualify for the Singapore Grand Prix Sprint?
Isack Hadjar finished Sprint Qualifying in P9 after his best lap time in SQ3 was deleted due to exceeding track limits.
What issues affected Hadjar during Sprint Qualifying?
Hadjar reported fighting the car’s balance, feeling that the car was not “driveable” on the softer tyres, and encountering engine issues during his final run in SQ3.
Who claimed pole position for the Singapore Sprint?
Hadjar’s Red Bull teammate, four-time World Champion Max Verstappen, secured pole position for the Sprint at Marina Bay.
