Isack Hadjar expressed his disappointment after missing out on a top-four starting position in the Las Vegas qualification. According to the French driver, he was on track for a higher starting position than his eventual P8 during his last flying lap on the Las Vegas Strip Circuit, until Charles Leclerc caused a yellow flag. ‘A yellow flag is a yellow flag, so that was it,’ said Hadjar.
Both Racing Bulls cars, driven by Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson, performed strongly in the qualification on the Las Vegas street circuit. Both the Frenchman and the New Zealander made it to Q3 of the session, and during the first fast lap, they drove into the provisional top six. However, while Lawson actually secured a top-six starting position, Hadjar could not achieve more than P8.
Much to the driver’s chagrin. “It should have been much better,” Hadjar complained to the media present at the Las Vegas Strip Circuit. “Honestly, so far this year we have only driven in the rain during races, without visibility, so I have never really been able to prove myself in the rain in an F1 car. So today was the first time, and I really enjoyed it. We are fast, so I am happy that I drove my first F1 qualification in the rain.”
Leclerc
However, Hadjar was frustrated that the yellow flag – caused by Charles Leclerc going off the track – prevented him from achieving a better qualification result. The driver already complained over the team radio. “Why was there a yellow flag? There was nothing wrong,” Hadjar exclaimed on his way back to the pit lane. The Racing Bulls driver then received confirmation that the yellow flag was caused by Leclerc. “Of course that guy ruined our session. Oh my god, it was like we were glued to Leclerc.”
Even after the session, Hadjar is convinced that without the yellow flag, a top-four starting position would have been within his reach. “We were ultimately screwed by Charles,” the French driver stated clearly. “He started, a yellow flag came out, and that was it. I was going much faster in my lap than expected, we were looking at a place in the top four,” Hadjar continued to Formula1.com. “But a yellow flag is a yellow flag, so that was it. It’s so frustrating to have to back off for that.”
