Whereas he fights for the Method 2 crown, Isack Hadjar is protecting 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.
Nonetheless, 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 longer term – which might 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 Group’s main driver, Hadjar has been contending for the F2 title and is hoping that the state of affairs will pan out favourably.
“I’d say my likelihood is alive, no less than,” the Frenchman tells Motorsport.com.
“Clearly, it is simply not all the way down to me.
“There’s lots happening 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 Photos
“I do not know what choices they’re gonna take, however hopefully I am right here and attempting 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 exhibits that our technology is sweet,” the 20-year-old claims.
“For some time, we thought that have was the principle factor, after which you’ll be able to’t soar in and beat the man that has 10 years in F1 – however the truth is, you’ll be able to. 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 be capable of carry out at that very same stage on account 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 soar into an F1 automobile proper now, it could be way more troublesome than it was for Ollie or Liam,” he says.
“My expertise thus far in F1 has been three FP1s, and the run plans are at all times fairly restricted with laps.”
Colapinto has already scored twice for Williams, and Hadjar begrudgingly acknowledges Pink Bull is in search of “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 staff…”
A quick “that’s how it’s” speaks volumes as to the teen’s opinion relating to 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 thus far this 12 months.
“I simply discovered myself way more snug working with Campos than at the moment with Hitech,” he explains. “I had an important, nice season in F3 [with Hitech], actually good reminiscences.
“However then going into F2, working with completely different folks, I simply did not match in any respect, and simply struggled the entire 12 months. I had velocity at occasions. However I’ve to say I might have had a a lot, a lot better season. I made fairly a couple of errors.
“So I’d say I improved lots on maximizing the outcomes, maximizing the potential, and simply doing fewer errors – after which clearly the general bundle has been a lot better.”
Nonetheless, 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 extremely robust season thus far, with too many downs and mechanical failures,” he concedes.
“Wanting again at my championship, I felt like each time we had a very good weekend, we have been on the rostrum on Sunday, or profitable. In order that’s why I am actually blissful about my efficiency.
“I felt I at all times maximised what I had, and that is just about how I made my factors actually on Sunday.” He’s not improper, having scored no fewer than 145 of his 165 factors in function 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’d not be okay with that, clearly, since you need to drive,” Hadjar asserts.
“But when that’s what it must be, then I’ll do it and suppose forward.”
