Hadjar’s career-best Dutch GP Qualifying ‘really unexpected’

Isack Hadjar registered the best Qualifying result of his fledgling Formula 1 career, as he set the fourth-fastest time on Saturday.

Racing Bulls rookie Hadjar will start from the second row of the grid for the first time after putting in a scintillating performance at Zandvoort. Lining up alongside Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, only the four-time champion and the two McLaren drivers start ahead of the Frenchman.

His previous best result was a sixth place in Qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix.

“I’m feeling great! An amazing Qualifying,” said Hadjar. “Honestly, yesterday was a complete disaster for me, so it was really unexpected.

“This morning, I had a really good feeling, but we knew it would be very hard to reach Q3, and actually, both of us [Racing Bulls drivers] managed to reach Q3.

“He [team mate Liam Lawson] was really pushing me hard, and I put it all on the line on that final lap and put it all together. It was a great lap, so I’m happy.”

Without a point in five races, Hadjar added: “It gives me a lot of confidence, because recently, I’ve felt like maybe our race pace has been a bit better. I think the car is really healthy around here. Liam [Lawson] was quite fast on the long run on Friday, so it gives us a lot of confidence going into the race.”

Lawson will start from eighth place on Sunday, but was left frustrated by a lack of improvement between Q2 and Q3.

“It’s good to be in Q3. It was very promising out there throughout Qualifying,” said the New Zealander. “I don’t really know why, but we went slower in Q3, so there’s some stuff to look into. I think we were feeling quite good after Q2 and naturally, everyone makes a step into Q3, but for some reason, we didn’t make a step.

“It’s very sensitive here. It’s obviously a tricky lap, and getting the balance right with this wind is tough. It’s frustrating, because I think we had good potential.

“We need a good start and to try to stay where we are, and then let’s see. It’s going to be a hard race, that’s for sure. It’s very physical here, so it’s probably going to be a long day.”