Isack Hadjar all the time units excessive requirements for himself, and the Crimson Bull driver isn’t fully happy with a race outcome.
Maybe not surprisingly then, Hadjar was left bitterly dissatisfied after a possible podium end slipped out of his palms as a consequence of a battery situation for his Crimson Bull machine within the closing laps of the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.
As an alternative he fell again to complete P5 – nonetheless good progress from his penalised P8 beginning place, however far lower than he had anticipated at one level within the race.
Having made the optimum selection for intermediate tyres at first he instantly moved up, profiting from the truth that 4 automobiles forward began on slicks, whereas additionally shedding one spot to Liam Lawson.
By Lap 6 he had handed the person who stored his RB22 seat heat for 3 races to say fourth, and from there he initially had a great view of the battle up forward that featured his group mate Max Verstappen and Mercedes drivers Kimi Antonelli and George Russell.
Nevertheless any hopes he could have had of becoming a member of the struggle pale as he struggled for grip and couldn’t match the tempo of the blokes forward – and he had no rationalization as to why.
“No, however one thing was incorrect,” Hadjar stated. “As a result of I can not presumably be a second lap slower now, even in comparison with a Mercedes, the place the entire weekend we have been faster. And now within the race we’re completely nowhere. The automotive was horrible to drive.”
The Frenchman’s struggles have been evident in his shocked response on the radio when later within the race he was informed that he was combating Lewis Hamilton – who at one stage was far behind in his Ferrari.
“Yeah, he was 15 seconds behind me, after which in a few laps he was [right] behind, when the entire weekend I used to be fairly quick. Yeah, we have to repair the problem, and are available again in Singapore and do higher.”
Hadjar was nonetheless fourth over the past Security Automotive interval, and he then gained a spot when Russell stopped on monitor. Nevertheless after the restart he struggled with a battery situation, and within the closing laps he was handed by first Hamilton, after which Charles Leclerc.
“Simply the final couple of laps, I do not understand how we ended up having no battery,” he stated. “So within the straight, I could not defend in opposition to the Ferraris, so we misplaced the rostrum on one thing so silly.
“I believe the facility unit was positive. It is simply the primary two laps of the restart, I do not know why we have been so down on battery. Then it stabilised itself, after which I used to be quick once more. In any other case, I might have stored third.”
Nevertheless, the primary situation was chassis-related: “I do not know, simply the grip – even behind the Security Automotive, I used to be feeling that I had no grip, and it was going to be a troublesome restart for me. So it felt like I used to be all the time on the identical tyres – I got here again on the run one compound – so it is a joke.”
It was an incredible day for Verstappen, the Crimson Bull group and Ford as they logged the primary win of the 2026 season, however Hadjar was in no temper to have fun: “It isn’t a great day for me. I am pleased for the boys – however yeah, it is a catastrophe for me…”
