Isack Hadjar, abandoned by visibility: « When I start to see, I’m already in Antonelli’s car »
Isack Hadjar, who started 12th at Silverstone, saw his race come to an abrupt end after a crash under the safety car. Blinded by splashing water, the Frenchman crashed into Kimi Antonelli's single-seater.
Starting 12th on the grid for the British Grand Prix, Isack Hadjar hoped to make an impression in the rain at Silverstone. But his race came to an abrupt end on lap 17, under a safety car, after crashing into Kimi Antonelli’s car, who had to retire a few laps later. The cause: almost zero visibility due to water spray. A frustrating retirement for the French rookie, aware of his responsibilities and the learning experience it involves.
Honestly, I knew the restart was going to be very complicated, I couldn’t see much during the whole lap, he confides to Canal+. I didn’t see anything coming. When I start to regain visibility, I’m already in Antonelli’s car.
On the onboard footage, the incident is as brutal as it is sudden. Hadjar returns at full speed, blinded, without understanding what stands before him until the impact. « That’s when I start to see the light. I’m already under his car. »
Isack Hadjar takes responsibility
However, the driver does not blame his opponent. I think he took the margin he needed. I didn’t take it. Maybe I could have taken fewer risks. But it was mainly a matter of visibility.
Before this clash, Hadjar had managed to have an encouraging start to the race. He recounts making the strategic choice to put on slicks at the right time, and having driven for a long time in the wake of Charles Leclerc. « We had the pace, we held our position. But in the end, we were no longer on our initial strategy. »
Despite the bitterness, the Frenchman chooses to learn lessons. « I learned quite a few things. I was able to do the first laps in very complicated conditions. We know what should not be repeated. »
At Silverstone, Hadjar didn’t see the end of the race. But he got a close look at the harshness of Formula 1 in the rain — and it’s often in this fog that the strongest lessons are formed.
