Does Red Bull Junior driver Isack Hadjar have what it takes to be the F2 champion this year?
The 2024 Formula 2 season is reaching its most crucial rounds. With five rounds and ten races left, the fight is still open. However, at Silverstone, Hadjar was able to get ahead in the championship standings. The French-Algerian wants, at all costs, to win the title in his second year in Formula 2, especially considering the pressure that comes with being a Red Bull racing driver. After a career near the positions that matter, Isack Hadjar could win the most important Formula 1’s Feeder Series. But, could it bring him near the F1 world next year? And is he ready to make these steps up?
Where it all began for F2 driver Isack Hadjar
Isack Hadjar made his debut in a single-seater in the Formula 4 French Championship. From there, step by step, he raced in FRECA and the Formula Regional Asian Championship. In his first year in Formula 3, he collected three wins and finished the race in front of his teammates in Hitech almost every time. His first season in F3 began in the best way possible. He won in Bahrain and that gave him a boost of confidence. However, some placements outside the points penalized him a lot and he ended the championship in fourth.
The passion and speed he showed the past year, allowed him to step up to Formula 2 with Hitech. Still, the season did not go as he imagined and he ended the year only 14th in the final standings. He spoke about his year as very frustrating and, even when he felt like he was driving at his best, he did not get the results he hoped for.
Also, between him and the team, there was a bit of friction. In Motorsport, if the driver does not find the right feeling with the car and with the team a difficult season waits for him ahead. That is what happened to Hadjar, who did not manage to show all of his ability.
The incident that led to Isack Hadjar's pit lane start for the Feature 😬👇#F2 #HungarianGP pic.twitter.com/W7LF2N8BoO
— Formula 2 (@Formula2) July 21, 2024
From entering the Red Bull Junior Team to leading the F2 championship
In 2021, Helmut Marko and Red Bull revealed their interest in Isack Hadjar. The following year he became part of the team. Despite the difficulties in Formula 2, Helmut Marko had faith in him and the young driver appreciated it a lot. Red Bull pushed him to improve and to aim for the maximum in 2024. He switched teams to Campos Racing with Josep “Pepe” Martì and a second chance to start again was given to him.
The pressure is a lot and he knows. Very often Hadjar, due to the frustration, complained and raised his voice with the team on the radio.
This year, in terms of performance, he has made a step forward and in Silverstone he got the championship lead, taking it away from Paul Aron. The gap is now 18 points but the season is still long and the Campos driver must perform at his best to stay in front of the Estonian. In fact, the mistakes made by Hadjar and his team weigh on his championship hopes.
For example, in Hungary, the French driver was originally third on the grid. However, the team was not ready on time so when he was going to line up on the gird, the pit lane exit was already closed. Therefore, Hadjar had to start from the pit lane. In the last races, the Algerian must prove he has what he needs to be champion, which is consistency in getting good results and calm and determination to handle all kinds of situations on track.
Close to Formula 1
After numerous speculations about Perez’s future, which after qualifying in Hungary increased, several candidates emerged for his seat. In recent weeks, among the many names of experienced drivers, also appeared that of Isack Hadjar. Christian Horner, after the Frenchman took the leadership of the championship and drove an F1 car at Silverstone in an FP1 session, praised his skills; not excluding his arrival in F1 if he wins the Formula 2 championship. The stakes for the young driver from Paris are very high and the tension is rising in each round.
Nevertheless, Hadjar seems to have a clear goal: win the championship and get revenge for last year’s performances. To show Red Bull that he can be one of their drivers on which to focus in the future.
