All the rookies
This year’s Formula 1 championship will feature six rookies as official drivers, with half of them making their absolute debut in the Circus. In addition to Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Gabriel Bortoleto, the starting grid will also include Frenchman Isack Hadjar, last season’s Formula 2 runner-up behind Gabriel Bortoleto and the new Racing Bulls driver following Liam Lawson’s departure.
A dream come true
Appearing very emotional in front of the media on the eve of Free Practice at the Australian Grand Prix, Yuki Tsunoda’s teammate first shared his feelings just one day before his debut in an official weekend: “I’ve been waiting for this moment since I started karting,” he commented. “I feel ready, it’s an amazing feeling. My family is here to see my first race, so I can’t wait.”
The ‘calm’ of F1
A debut that will allow the 20-year-old Parisian to face a new format, one he prefers compared to Formula 2: “Here, I can proceed a bit more step by step, which I definitely prefer, whereas in F2, you’re more pushed towards qualifying,” he added. “So I can build up the pace more calmly and will have useful references.” – he pointed out.
Where to improve to achieve his goals
Isack Hadjar then discussed the pros and cons of the car observed during pre-season testing, as well as his goals for his first F1 season: “I’d say that in Bahrain, based on my personal experience, we were actually quite decent. I felt comfortable in medium-to-high-speed corners, whereas in the slow ones, where you set the fast lap, I wasn’t very confident. So that’s something I’ll have to work on. I’m ready to challenge Yuki (Tsunoda), but my goal isn’t to beat him. I want to achieve my own objectives to feel prouder, and that’s what I’m focusing on. A goal? A podium.” – he concluded ahead of the Australian Grand Prix weekend at the Albert Park circuit.
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