Hadjar Laments “Super-Frustrating” Williams Teamwork Costing Bigger Saudi Points Haul
Isack Hadjar, the young Racing Bulls driver, has revealed his frustration at strategic teamwork between the Williams drivers, Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz (note: reports indicate Carlos Sainz was not driving for Williams; this is likely a misunderstanding in the initial report and should be corrected to Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant or simply the two Williams drivers), as the primary reason he couldn’t secure a larger points haul at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Starting from a respectable 14th on the grid, Hadjar put in a strong drive to climb into the top ten, eventually settling in 10th position. However, his progress was ultimately stymied by the tactical deployment of the Drag Reduction System (DRS) between the two Williams cars ahead of him.
Speaking after the race, Hadjar explained that he felt he possessed the pace to potentially challenge for eighth position. However, the Williams drivers effectively used the DRS to defend their positions, with one car providing the tow to the other, making overtaking attempts for Hadjar virtually impossible.
“There was nothing I could have done,” Hadjar stated, highlighting his inability to break through the Williams’ defensive strategy. He described the situation as “super-frustrating,” knowing that more points were potentially within reach were it not for the coordinated teamwork ahead.
Despite the disappointment of a potentially better result slipping through his fingers, Hadjar acknowledged the strategic element employed by Williams is simply “part of racing.” He conceded that his own team, Racing Bulls, would likely adopt similar tactics if their drivers found themselves in a comparable situation on track.
Ultimately, Hadjar could still take positives from the Saudi Arabian weekend. Starting outside the points, he managed to secure a valuable single point for the team, a commendable achievement, particularly considering he started the race on the harder tire compound. However, the lingering feeling of what could have been, due to the effective teamwork of the Williams outfit, clearly left the young driver feeling somewhat deflated. The incident serves as a reminder of the strategic complexities and team dynamics that often play a crucial role in the outcome of Formula 1races.
