Isack Hadjar had a disastrous debut at the season opener in Melbourne. The young driver crashed during the formation lap of his first Grand Prix. During his long walk back to the paddock, he was visibly emotional. “A bit embarrassing,” Helmut Marko critically responded. However, Hadjar didn’t let this setback discourage him and later admitted that he also found his performance somewhat awkward.
“Isack Hadjar was a bit tearful after his crash,” Helmut Marko told Austrian broadcaster ORF last week. “That was a bit embarrassing.” During a press conference leading up to the China GP, Hadjar was asked about the top advisor of Red Bull’s comment. “I found it embarrassing myself,” he responded with a laugh. “But we know what Helmut Marko is like. I had him on the phone the next day. It’s all good, I’ve known him for a few years now.”
Anthony Hamilton
“I know how he operates, and besides, the interview in question was in German,” Isack Hadjar added. “It was probably interpreted differently. You don’t know about body language – I haven’t seen the footage. I can’t say much more about it. I was surprised by the love from the fans that I received after the crash, so that was nice to see.”
After his brief debut, Hadjar was comforted by Anthony Hamilton, the father of his great idol and role model. “It was a nice moment to spend some time with someone like Anthony,” Hadjar explained. “Of course, the father of my idol. He said it reminded him of Lewis Hamilton’s early years in Formula 1. It was a special moment – Lewis also sent me a message later that day. They are really sincere guys.”
Isack Hadjar after his early retirement during the Australian GP.
