Isack Hadjar turned what looked like an uphill battle into one of the standout drives of the Belgian Grand Prix, charging from the very back of the grid to an impressive sixth-place finish after a brilliantly executed strategy built around two lengthy stints on the hard tyre.
Starting 21st after a back-of-the-grid penalty for exceeding power unit component limits, the Red Bull youngster faced a daunting afternoon at Spa-Francorchamps.
But rather than chasing outright qualifying speed over the weekend, the team had focused its preparations on race pace – a decision justified by his grid drop that paid off handsomely when it mattered most on Sunday.
Making the most of an early Safety Car period, Hadjar completed his required tyre compound changes with two quick pit stops before settling into a pair of extended runs on the hard compound.
With rivals peeling into the pits around him, he steadily climbed the order, slicing through the field to secure his sixth top-six finish in as many races.
Hard tyre plan delivers big reward
Hadjar revealed that Sunday's strategy had been mapped out well before the lights went out, with the expectation that he would have to recover from near the back of the field.
“We knew that was part of the plan, starting nearly last, and we worked on it quite a lot through the free practice sessions,” he told Sky F1.
Rather than prioritising single lap pace in Friday and Saturday’s practice sessions the team invested its efforts in understanding tyre behaviour over longer distances – a gamble that proved decisive on race day.
“Our one-lap pace was not the target and, today, it paid off,” he added. “So I’m glad we really put the work in on the long runs. I think it really helped. And moving forwards, maybe change the approach, because it worked really well.”
The approach allowed Hadjar to maintain strong, consistent pace throughout the Grand Prix, helping him pick off rivals while making the hard tyres last deep into each stint.
Confidence growing after standout performance
Even after his final stop, Hadjar still had plenty of work to do. Rejoining around 15 seconds behind team mate Max Verstappen, the Frenchman steadily chipped away at the gap and crossed the finish line only about 12 seconds adrift of the multiple world champion.
That performance left the Red Bull driver convinced he had produced his strongest Formula 1 race yet in his young career.
Read also: Verstappen feared ‘airplane shunt’ with Leclerc in Belgian GP“I think our one-lap pace, I showed what I needed to show,” he said. “Today I think is probably my best race.
“Race pace-wise, I’m right up there with the leaders, so I’m very glad with my first ten races. To be honest, I’m really looking forward to the races, because there are a lot of things we need to tidy up as a team – in a good way. I think there’s a lot more to come.”
For a driver who began Sunday with the odds stacked firmly against him, sixth place felt like far more than a solid points finish. It was a statement of growing confidence, a showcase of racecraft, and further evidence that Hadjar is quickly establishing himself as one of Formula 1's brightest emerging talents.
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