French drivers struggle in Hungary: a look back at a dark weekend

Isack Hadjar: so close to points but …

Starting 10th on the grid, just behind his teammate, Isack Hadjar crossed the finish line in 11th place, on the cusp of scoring points. A performance showing significant improvement compared to Spa the previous weekend (where he finished 20th), but still below his ambitions. Betting on a one-stop strategy on the 33rd lap, switching from medium to hard tires, the French driver had an eventful start to the race, especially against Oliver Bearman. During this duel, Hadjar was injured in the hand by gravel splashes from the Haas ahead of him. He immediately informed his engineer via radio. Although the incident was painful at the moment, it did not seem to affect his performance on track. Until the very end, Hadjar tried everything to overtake Kimi Antonelli, without success.

Upon arrival, Hadjar did not hide his frustration: according to him, the weekend was unfair, highlighting that some less performant cars managed to score points, while the Racing Bulls seemed more competitive, except in Q3. He mentioned a tricky race, characterized by an overall high pace, but hindered by slower single-seaters during the race.

Despite this disappointment, the young Frenchman prefers to focus on the positives accumulated since the beginning of the season. Before the summer break, he expresses confidence and determination to approach the final part of the championship well.

Best lap: 1’20.802 on the 48th lap (15th fastest time), with an average of 195.188 km/h.

Esteban Ocon’s race in Budapest

Starting 17th on the grid, Esteban Ocon managed no better than 16th place at the finish. Despite a good start, his progress was quickly hindered by a bold one-stop strategy: he switched to hard tires as early as lap 14, after a shortened first stint on mediums. As a result, the driver from Normandy had to complete 49 laps on the same set of tires (a record for this Grand Prix), which clearly compromised his chances of climbing up the standings.

Upon arrival, the winner of the 2021 Hungarian GP acknowledged that his car lacked rhythm and consistency, especially during the race. He also pointed out a general lack of performance, mentioning the need for the team to work on the car’s balance and handling. When asked about his strategy, he expressed doubts about its effectiveness, suggesting that a second stop might have allowed for better use of a more competitive car with fresh tires. A small reason for satisfaction nonetheless: his pit stop went smoothly, contrasting with the error at Spa, where his team accidentally fitted him with a set of used tires!

« It was undoubtedly a difficult day. We struggled a bit, especially towards the end, because I think the cars behind us were a little faster with fresher tires. We managed to pass them, which gave us a chance. It was a good start, but we need to work on better controlling the car and gaining speed throughout the race. If you look at the first half of the season, there are certainly positives with a respectable number of points, but we’re not consistent enough. If you take Spa as an example, we delivered an exceptional performance during the sprint, but we’re obviously not at that level every weekend. We’re working on it, and I have full confidence in this team. »

Best lap: 1’21.916 in the 17th lap (19th best time), with an average of 191.533 km/h.

Pierre Gasly: A Difficult Race and a Penalty

Pierre Gasly finished the race in a disappointing 19th place, penalized by a racing incident with Carlos Sainz at the very end of the Grand Prix. Despite a one-stop strategy for a long stint on medium tires after his pit stop on lap 32, the French driver’s car was severely lacking in performance.

Gasly’s race end was marked by a ten-second penalty. The race stewards deemed Gasly entirely responsible for the collision at turn 4, while he was battling with Carlos Sainz for position. Sainz, who had initiated an overtake on the outside, was entitled to the racing line (his front axle was ahead at the apex), and Gasly’s attempt to regain his position led to a collision. Visibly disappointed and resigned, Gasly summed up his race: « Even though we had quite a few battles on track, we were just too slow. I love this kind of race with hard-fought positions, but that’s how it is! »

Best lap: 1’21.453 in the 46th lap (18th fastest time), with an average of 193.675 km/h.