Isack Hadjar shows great potential in full F1 debut at Chinese GP

After not starting in the Australian GP, Isack Hadjar finally completed his promising full Formula 1 debut with Racing Bulls at the Chinese GP.

The French-Algerian driver — despite scoring no points — demonstrated impressive speed throughout the Shanghai weekend. His biggest achievement was outqualifying experienced teammate Yuki Tsunoda in the main race qualifying session.

Hadjar showed excellence in handling the VCARB 02 car — particularly in long corners with earlier throttle application compared to Tsunoda. GPS data revealed his driving style to be brave yet controlled.

• 0.19 seconds faster than Tsunoda in first Q3 run
• 85% vs Tsunoda’s 70% throttle usage in Turn 7
• Strong performance in second and third sectors

However, there remain areas for improvement — particularly in starts and wheel-to-wheel combat. His battle with Jack Doohan in the closing stages revealed a lack of sharpness in overtaking situations.

“I could never find the same balance, so I was struggling a bit more with the car and I knew I was losing out. I think there was more lap time, more positions to gain,” said Hadjar.

Overall, Hadjar’s full debut provided positive indicators for his F1 future — showing great potential that needs to be refined with more experience at motorsport’s highest level.