Objective “to spend only one year in F2” for Isack Hadjar

Isack Hadjar spent only one year in F3, finished with a 4th place with his car Hitech GP and marked by 5 podiums, 3 victories, and the title of best rookie. The objective is to maintain this dynamic and take the quickest route to the premier category: “ My goal is to have a very solid season and enter F1. It would be nice to spend just one year in F2, that would be ideal. That's the main goal, I'll give it my all », he declares in a interview given to Formula 2.

But the F1 antechamber set promises to be of a very high level. Theo Pourchaire will be in his third season in search of the title, F3 champion Victor Martins will want no less, just like the protégé of the Team Oliver Bearman… And the six young wolves of Red Bull starters on the grid of this campaign which promises to be explosive are not left out. “ I'm very happy to be a member of Red Bull, it's great! And I'm very happy to have good drivers in the same academy as me to pull me up. » But this big Red Bull family is above all an internal battle: “ I hope to beat them all, that’s the goal. It doesn't bother me, I'm focused on my performance », tempers the Ile-de-France resident.

In this ascent of the single-seater pyramid, Hadjar will be able to count on a partner of choice: Hitech GP. The British team and the French driver already worked together in Formula Regional Asia and in F3, making the transition smoother: “ I can't wait, even though I knew I would be promoted since last year already. I can't wait to start the season with this same team. Being with the same team allows me not to be destabilized, I am happy not to go elsewhere. I feel like that's an advantage. »

Do Hadjar in F2 as quickly as possible

But everything will not be simple for the Frenchman in an F2 championship that he describes as “ very competitive ". A new car to understand, a system of pit stops and strategies to master, a new tire management to master... If keeping the same environment is good news for the 18-year-old driver, acclimatization will have to be the most quickly possible: “ Of course, I won't be 100% ready for the first Grand Prix because there aren't enough testing days, but I hope to understand everything quickly and fight for victories. » 

Test sessions which began at the end of the 2022 season on the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates), the driver's only laps at the moment: “ The first two days were quite difficult, I was a little disappointed. The third day I was much more competitive, he says. Ultimately I found the car quite similar to F3, I felt comfortable, so I think we will be competitive easily. The first session in Abu Dhabi was quite tiring after three days of testing and lots of race simulations. Fitness was my main concern during the winter, I hope it will pay off during the season. »

Despite intense preparation for the dawn of the 2023 financial year, Hadjar has only one idea in mind: arriving in Melbourne at the end of March. An unknown route for the entire grid, and a good opportunity for the Frenchman to stand out. “ On the other hand, in Jeddah or Baku, certain drivers like Théo (Pourchaire), Jack (Doohan) or Ayumu (Iwasa) already know the circuit. I think they will have a big advantage », he observes, knowing that he will be confronted with three tracks on which he has never ridden in the first four meetings of the season.

This tough season begins on March 3 in Sakhir, where Hadjar will officiate alongside another Red Bull colt Jak Crawford.

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