Home / Sports / Hadjar Claims Baku Pole Was Possible After Injury Layoff
Hadjar Claims Baku Pole Was Possible After Injury Layoff
26 Sep
Summary
- Isack Hadjar believes he could have secured second place in Baku qualifying.
- A wrist injury kept Hadjar out of racing for three prior weekends.
- Hadjar noted Red Bull car improvements but acknowledged Mercedes' straight-line speed advantage.
Isack Hadjar secured fourth place on the grid for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, but feels he missed an opportunity for a better result. The young driver stated that he believes second place was within reach if he had more recent race experience. He attributed his performance to being sidelined for the previous three race weekends due to a wrist injury sustained in Hungary.
Hadjar explained his cautious approach during practice sessions, prioritizing familiarization with the car and track without incident. He gradually pushed his limits, leading to his Q3 performance. He observed significant improvements in the Red Bull car's handling in corners since his last race. However, Hadjar also acknowledged Mercedes' dominance, particularly their advantage on the straights, which remains a challenge for his team.
This fourth-place qualifying result matches Hadjar's best performance of the season, previously achieved at the opening race in Melbourne. His return to racing signifies a positive step after recovering from his injury, despite acknowledging the competitive gap to top teams like Mercedes.
