Hadjar faces possible pit-lane start after Singapore failures

Isack Hadjar endured a damaging day in Singapore, retiring from the Sprint with a power unit problem before a gearbox failure ended his qualifying session. Red Bull is now likely to fit fresh power unit components for the Grand Prix, a move that would mean a pit-lane start.

Power unit trouble was followed by a gearbox failure

Hadjar’s Sprint ended when he had to stop his RB22 because of a power unit issue. The stoppage came as the field circulated behind the safety car, following a first-lap crash involving George Russell.

He stopped during the session, managed to get moving again and returned to the garage. On a subsequent attempt to set a lap, he reported a gearbox problem. That issue proved terminal, leaving him unable to take part further in qualifying.

The sequence turned a power unit problem into a broader reliability headache for the team. Hadjar said the weekend had been coming apart and that a fresh start was needed. F1LivePulse has also followed Hadjar’s Red Bull return and the team’s evaluation of the driver.

Fresh components could mean a pit-lane start

Hadjar is set to start from the back after failing to qualify. He also acknowledged that replacing the power unit ahead of the race was likely, with the consequence of starting from the pit lane.

That would leave him facing a difficult recovery on a circuit where overtaking is notoriously hard. The team’s priority, however, appears to be getting a usable car together after the Sprint retirement and qualifying failure.

For Hadjar, the frustration was less about the starting position than the lost opportunity to compete. He wanted to be on track fighting the other drivers, but instead ended the session with unused tyres and another mechanical problem to address before the race.