Red Bull driver to start with a grid penalty in Malaysia: Hadjar reveals plans before the weekend
The Bahrain GP in Malaysia kicks off with a penalty that could prove costly for the Red Bull driver. Isack Hadjar will serve a five-place grid penalty, yet the Frenchman appears determined not to change his approach to the weekend. In fact, compared to Baku, Hadjar explained he is ready to push from the very first laps.
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Hadjar adopts new approach after Baku
The comparison with the previous race is inevitable. In Baku, Hadjar chose a more cautious approach in the early stages, owing to the track’s demands and a recent wrist injury that made him miss several races. However, the scenario in Malaysia will be quite different.
“The layout lets you go flat out immediately. It’s an open track with virtually no walls [near the track limits]. So you can push to the limit much earlier“, Hadjar told the media, including F1inGenerale.
The French driver also explained his caution in Baku: “If you go over the limit there, you end up hitting the wall and risking further injury. I wasn’t keen on that, so I took it step by step“.
In Malaysia, however, his mindset will shift. “This weekend feels completely normal to me and I have to take risks from the very first lap“, the Red Bull driver added.
The penalty won’t change Red Bull’s goals
The real question remains how competitive Red Bull can be on a more traditional circuit. Hadjar noted that Baku was one of the most favourable circuits for the RB22, though the team’s upgrades also played a key role.
“It’s a bit of both. The track definitely suited our car, but the upgrades made a difference too“, he explained.
The Malaysian circuit will therefore provide a clearer gauge of Red Bull’s true performance level. “On a conventional track, we’ll get a better idea of where we really stand. I expect we’ll be less competitive due to the layout, but if we can still fight for a podium this weekend, that would be a positive“, Hadjar emphasized.
Still, he must deal with the penalty: “I have to serve a five-place grid drop, but I believe that if you have good race pace here, you can make up positions. If you can’t, it means you’re not fast enough. We’ll see“.
For Hadjar, the Sepang weekend is a dual test: the challenge to recover the five grid spots and the chance to evaluate how much Red Bull’s upgrades have closed the gap on more conventional circuits.