Whereas he fights for the Method 2 crown, Isack Hadjar is maintaining a watchful eye on developments as Pink Bull evaluates its Method 1 driver line-ups.
Formally, Sergio Perez was confirmed alongside Max Verstappen on the Milton Keynes-based squad, whereas Yuki Tsunoda was introduced as staying at RB and Liam Lawson is broadly anticipated to be given a seat as he has been impressing these days as Daniel Ricciardo’s substitute.
Nevertheless, Perez has scored solely 48 factors within the final 15 grands prix in comparison with Verstappen’s 257, and his constant underperformance has led Pink Bull to pursue different avenues for the long run – which may entail selling Lawson to the principle outfit, or a shock rent in rookie Franco Colapinto bypassing RB to affix Verstappen in his first full F1 season.
The Pink Bull Junior Staff’s main driver, Hadjar has been contending for the F2 title and is hoping that the scenario will pan out favourably.
“I might say my likelihood is alive, at the very least,” the Frenchman tells Motorsport.com.
“Clearly, it is simply not right down to me.
“There’s rather a lot occurring at RB and Pink Bull, something can occur. And clearly, I am subsequent in line. In order that’s only a reality.
Isack Hadjar, Pink Bull Racing RB20
Picture by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Photographs
“I do not know what choices they’re gonna take, however hopefully I am right here and making an attempt to be prepared for subsequent 12 months in any case.”
Hadjar’s case could also be helped by Colapinto and Oliver Bearman impressing on their F1 cameos this 12 months regardless of their inexperience, given he had been outperforming each of them within the feeder sequence.
“It reveals that our era is nice,” the 20-year-old claims.
“For some time, we thought that have was the principle factor, after which you may’t bounce in and beat the man that has 10 years in F1 – however in reality, you may. In case you’re quick, you are quick. In order that they did good for us, displaying what the F2 grid can produce going to F1.”
But, Hadjar willingly admits he wouldn’t essentially have the ability to carry out at that very same stage as a consequence of having little or no F1 testing expertise, regardless of his intensive use of Pink Bull’s ‘fairly shockingly near actual life’ simulator.
“I feel if I needed to bounce into an F1 automotive proper now, it will be rather more troublesome than it was for Ollie or Liam,” he says.
“My expertise up to now in F1 has been three FP1s, and the run plans are all the time fairly restricted with laps.”
Colapinto has already scored twice for Williams, and Hadjar begrudgingly acknowledges Pink Bull is searching for “a driver that’s quick, and he proves that he’s quick”, whereas keenly stating: “I’ve been in [the Red Bull] programme for 3 years, I’m second in F2, I’m the reserve for the crew…”
A quick “that’s how it’s” speaks volumes as to the teen’s opinion concerning the Colapinto avenue.
Isack Hadjar, Pink Bull Racing, Sergio Perez, Pink Bull Racing
Picture by: Pink Bull Content material Pool
Hadjar now has two rounds to go within the 2024 F2 season, in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, to seize the title – and most significantly persuade Pink Bull he’s deserving of a 2025 seat.
After an underwhelming maiden marketing campaign with Hitech, which he concluded solely 14th within the standings, Hadjar has claimed 4 wins up to now this 12 months.
“I simply discovered myself rather more snug working with Campos than at the moment with Hitech,” he explains. “I had an awesome, nice season in F3 [with Hitech], actually good reminiscences.
“However then going into F2, working with completely different individuals, I simply did not match in any respect, and simply struggled the entire 12 months. I had pace at instances. However I’ve to say I may have had a a lot, a lot better season. I made fairly just a few errors.
“So I might say I improved rather a lot on maximizing the outcomes, maximizing the potential, and simply doing fewer errors – after which clearly the general bundle has been a lot better.”
Nevertheless, Hadjar has been hampered by a string of disappointing outcomes of late, dropping the championship lead following point-less Monza and Baku rounds – he suffered a gradual pitstop and a sluggish begin in Italy earlier than crashing out from the Azerbaijan qualifying session, which impacted his entire weekend.
“We had a very robust season up to now, with too many downs and mechanical failures,” he concedes.
“Trying again at my championship, I felt like each time we had weekend, we have been on the rostrum on Sunday, or profitable. In order that’s why I am actually pleased about my efficiency.
“I felt I all the time maximised what I had, and that is just about how I made my factors actually on Sunday.” He’s not flawed, having scored no fewer than 145 of his 165 factors in characteristic races.
Regardless, what if Hadjar doesn’t get that F1 seat subsequent season and must spend the 12 months as a reserve driver for Pink Bull’s groups?
“I imply, I might not be okay with that, clearly, since you wish to drive,” Hadjar asserts.
“But when that’s what it needs to be, then I will do it and assume forward.”
