A grand prix weekend with Isack Hadjar

He arrived quietly, without fanfare, letting other rookies soak up the spotlight. Isack Hadjar became a full-time Formula 1 driver without ever having won a junior championship – a fact he addresses in his own way: few words, carefully chosen, straight to the point.

“For a young driver, the most important thing is to impress. You can win a title, but if you don’t impress people, you’ll hardly achieve your goal.”

Hadjar did impress – enough to earn his place in F1 at the age of 20 and to quickly send another message to those who believed in him: Isack was worth the investment.

At the Monaco Grand Prix in 2021, Hadjar claimed a surprise victory in the Formula Regional support race after securing pole position. After the race, he returned to a small apartment he had rented for the weekend with his former manager.

“We had just walked in when my trainer said he got a call: ‘Helmut Marko wants to meet you.’ I told him to get lost – I thought he was joking. But he kept insisting, and I realised it was serious. I asked, ‘OK, when?’ and he said, ‘Now!’”

Unable to find a taxi, they ran on foot to Marko’s hotel. “We arrived completely soaked in sweat. Helmut was standing in the lobby. We sat down, and it was all very simple. He looked at me and said, ‘I’ll send you a contract. That’s it.’ At the time it felt strange, but I later understood – that’s how it works.”

From Faenza to the grid

Hadjar now lives in Faenza, close to the Racing Bulls team that welcomed him last winter. “I prefer it to Milton Keynes, but in reality I spend very little time at home. I left for Melbourne and didn’t come back until just before Imola. You go from race to race, and if there are a few free days, I usually spend them at the simulator in Milton Keynes.”

When he listens, Hadjar pays close attention. But when he speaks, his gaze drifts off – only to lock back in on his final sentence.

As he prepares for his first European race weekend as an F1 driver, there’s no sign of nerves. His Faenza flat is just 15km from the Imola circuit. He packs his backpack with care, checking twice that everything is in place – a sign of the precision and discipline that also show in his passion for judo, which he practises whenever possible. Once ready, he’s the one prompting others: “Shall we go?”

A story of dedication and roots

His parents are with him all the way. His father Yassine is a quantum physicist, his mother Randa is an HR director at a public company and helps manage Isack’s career. “My family is originally from Algeria. My parents came to France alone at 19 and built everything they have through hard work.”

Yassine is well respected in his field – and the formulae on the back of Isack’s helmet are a tribute to him.

Isack Hadjar’s helmet

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

“When I was five, he put me in a rental kart, and I found it terrifying. Two years later, he signed me up for a course outside Paris – one session every other Sunday. Eventually, the instructor told my dad, ‘Your son is good. You should buy him a kart and let him race.’”

But conditions applied for the budding karter Isack: “If you want to do something, you commit to it. But it was understood that I had to excel – otherwise they wouldn’t support what had become my dream.”

Initially, it was dad Yassine who came to the kart tracks. “He hates mechanics, but he became my mechanic just for me. Weekends at the track, long drives – he gave all his free time to me. Then, once I started getting results, things became more serious and my mother stepped in.”

Randa, with her strong professional network, helped raise the budget that allowed Isack to move into single-seaters.

Rising career, grounded mindset

It’s Randa who now follows him into the Imola paddock – always one step behind. It’s Thursday, media day. But Hadjar’s schedule began much earlier: simulator work on Tuesday, a team meeting in Faenza with Liam Lawson on Wednesday.

Between interviews, he checks his phone – not for social media, but for football clips, MMA highlights or junior category qualifying sessions. He’s a PSG fan, close friends with Fabio Quartararo and a devoted follower of many sports. Now that he’s an F1 driver, some of his dreams are coming true – but he’s staying firmly grounded.

Isack Hadjar

Photo by: Racing Bulls

“This is exactly what I dreamed of doing. The only difference is that dreams don’t include the less exciting parts – like the endless travel. When I was younger, my dad used to say: enjoy the days when you’re bored. I’d think, ‘What are you talking about? I want to race, play football, hang out with friends.’ But now I get it – I miss those quiet days at home. The schedule is relentless. Last week I got sick; I was totally wiped out.

“But when I’m in the car, especially in qualifying – Q1, Q2, Q3 – I love it. You know every tenth matters, and those are incredible moments.

“I wish I could live two lives – one where I’m just with the people I like, and one where I just race. But I know I can’t have both.”

The rookie who hates repetition

Friday is relatively light on media. But Saturday begins with a visit to the Paddock Club. Isack leaves hospitality, as always accompanied by his media minder Andrea Saveri, walking across the paddock with headphones on.

“I listen to French rap mostly – but it depends on the mood.”

At first glance, Hadjar may come off as restless. But spend time with him and it becomes clear: those movements are part of a self-regulation system, his way of zoning in and switching on – whether for driving or a technical briefing.

“I know how important the technical side is,” he says as he heads to the garage for qualifying. “It wasn’t easy at first, but now I enjoy that part of the job. I’ve realised how much of a difference you can make even outside the car. I know I have a lot of room to grow there.

“I try to use my head. My dad is a quantum physicist who studied his whole life – I hope I’ve inherited some of his abilities. And I’ve learned that when I’m on track, I’m not just pushing the car – I’m the primary sensor my engineers rely on.”

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls

Photo by: Erik Junius

There’s one thing Hadjar struggles with: repetition. “I hate it! If you make me do the same thing 200 times, I lose my mind. I like new challenges.”

There will be plenty of challenges ahead – but he’s laying strong foundations for an enduring career.

After qualifying at Imola, he doesn’t hide his frustration with P9 – and not even parental encouragement helps. “I could’ve been fifth…”

No phone call, no confirmation – just instinct

A few months ago, Hadjar wasn’t even in Formula 1. Now everything is moving fast. “Did I believe in it? Always! Otherwise, I wouldn’t have kept racing. I always believed – even in the worst moments.”

There’s even a funny detail – no one ever formally told Hadjar he’d be racing in F1 in 2025.

“I never got a call saying I’d be a Formula 1 driver. Let’s just say Helmut doesn’t like giving good news,” he laughs.

“No one ever said, ‘Good morning, Isack, you’re in F1 next year.’ Nothing like that. But obviously, I got the sense. Only when last season ended, and I was doing a simulator session in Milton Keynes, they told me: ‘Tomorrow, you’re going to Faenza.’ I asked why, and they said: ‘Don’t worry, see you tomorrow.’ It’s funny now – but back then, it kept me on edge.”

Even though the Imola race didn’t go his way – he dropped from sixth to ninth due to a poorly timed safety car – Hadjar’s stock continues to rise in the paddock.

“What I said about junior categories still holds true: you don’t always have a winning car, but I think there’s always an opportunity to show something impressive, something good. That’s what I’ve always relied on.

“But I know the time will come when only one thing matters: winning – and winning a lot.”

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls

Photo by: Racing Bulls