How a battery issue robbed frustrated Hadjar of a podium in Sepang

Isack Hadjar left the Bahrain Grand Prix frustrated after a late battery problem helped turn a potential podium into fifth place. The Red Bull driver had recovered from a penalised eighth-place start, but said he was left without the power to defend in the closing laps.

Early gains, then a grip problem

Hadjar made the right call to start on intermediate tyres and immediately moved forward as four cars ahead began on slicks. He also lost a position to Liam Lawson, but by Lap 6 had passed him to take fourth.

“I can’t possibly be a second per lap slower now, even compared to a Mercedes, where the whole weekend we were quicker,” he said. “The car was horrible to drive.”

His concern deepened as Lewis Hamilton closed in. Hadjar said Hamilton had been around 15 seconds behind before catching him within a few laps, despite Hadjar’s pace over the rest of the weekend. He called for the issue to be fixed before the next race in Singapore.

Hadjar’s broader Red Bull journey has also featured sharp turns, as explored in this account of his rookie turnaround.

Battery trouble ends podium hopes

Hadjar was fourth during the final Safety Car period and moved up when Russell stopped on track. But after the restart, he said the battery was unexpectedly depleted for the opening laps. Hamilton and Charles Leclerc passed him, leaving Hadjar fifth.

“In the straight, I couldn’t defend against the Ferraris, so we lost the podium on something so stupid,” he said. Hadjar added that the power unit itself seemed fine: the battery later stabilised, and he regained pace. Without the initial deficit, he believed, he would have kept third.

He also described a lack of grip behind the Safety Car, saying he felt he was on the same tyres and expected a difficult restart. His comments point to two problems across the race: a persistent lack of grip, followed by a brief battery shortfall at the worst possible moment.

While Verstappen, Red Bull and Ford had reason to celebrate, Hadjar was blunt about his own afternoon: “I’m happy for the boys – but yeah, it’s a disaster for me…”