Isack Hadjar frustrated after disastrous Spanish GP launch
“Slow and steady wins the race” is a saying that Isack Hadjar may have taken a little too literally at the start of the Spanish Grand Prix. The French driver lined up sixth on the grid after an excellent qualifying session, finishing only a few thousandths of a second behind teammate Max Verstappen.
However, before the field even reached Turn 1, Hadjar had fallen to the back of the pack after stalling twice when launching from his grid position.
According to the Red Bull driver, the issue was far from an isolated incident. Speaking after the race, Hadjar admitted that he had experienced similar problems during the practice starts he performed throughout the Barcelona weekend.
Max Verstappen had also encountered launch difficulties on several occasions during previous race weekends, further reinforcing the idea that Red Bull’s starting procedure may be particularly complex, especially when compared to close rivals Ferrari, McLaren and even Mercedes. Ironically, Mercedes had appeared vulnerable in race starts during the opening rounds of the Formula 1 season but now seems to have improved in that area.
Modern Formula 1 starts leave little room for error
The current Formula 1 regulations certainly do not make standing starts any easier. Drivers must now manage increasingly complex procedures, including the need to prepare the turbocharger by briefly bringing the engine to maximum revs before the start sequence.
As a result, the operating window for a perfect launch has become extremely narrow and varies according to the characteristics of each power unit.
This is exactly the aspect that Hadjar criticized. The Frenchman believes Red Bull’s launch procedure requires an almost impossible level of precision, making it difficult for any driver to reproduce flawlessly time after time.
“I stalled twice, and that had never happened all season. We need to solve these problems because the start procedure is way too complicated. I’m not a computer, I’m not a machine, I can’t be precise to 0.0001%. It’s not working,” said Hadjar.
Red Bull faces multiple challenges before Austria
Looking ahead to Red Bull’s home race at the Red Bull Ring, the Austrian team appears to have several areas requiring attention. In addition to the launch procedure concerns, the RB22 is still reportedly struggling with a lack of aerodynamic downforce and grip in high-speed corners, while also carrying a persistent weight disadvantage.
Despite these shortcomings, Hadjar remains optimistic about Red Bull’s chances at the next round. The Paris-born driver believes the characteristics of the Austrian circuit could provide an opportunity for the team to be competitive once again.
He also feels the Red Bull Ring could offer him a chance to secure what he considers his first podium finish of the season. Hadjar had initially celebrated a podium result in Monaco, only to lose it following Alpine’s successful appeal, which allowed Pierre Gasly to inherit the Principality’s “virtual” podium position.
With Austria now on the horizon, Hadjar hopes to put his Barcelona frustrations behind him and fight once again for a place among Formula 1’s top three finishers.
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