Hadjar very upset after Canadian GP Qualifying: "I'm not delivering"

Isack Hadjar did not mince words after qualifying seventh for the Canadian Grand Prix. The Red Bull rookie was openly critical of his own performance, admitting he is "very upset" with the way he has handled the decisive moments of qualifying in recent rounds.

Self-Criticism in the Cockpit

"I am very upset. Since Miami in Q3, I am not delivering. I make mistakes, and I'm not sharp enough in the final laps of Q3, and I overdrive it," Hadjar told Sky Sports F1 after qualifying.

The sense of frustration is rooted not in a lack of pace but in a belief that he is consistently leaving time on the table when it matters most. Asked directly whether he had left lap time out on track, his answer was blunt: "Yeah, too much, actually."

Hadjar's early pace in the session had shown genuine promise. He was mixing it with the Mercedes drivers while his team-mate struggled, suggesting the RB22 was capable of more than its final grid position reflected.

A Combination of Factors

When asked to assess the root causes of his current dip in form, Hadjar identified several intertwined issues rather than a single culprit.

"It's a combination of things: our car is not the easiest to drive, it's on a fine edge, and also, we've been driving two races in eight weeks, so it's hard to stay sharp. It's also wanting it too much," he said.

The latter point is telling. Hadjar described a mental battle inside the cockpit — a tendency to over-think and over-control in precisely the moments that demand instinct and freedom. "It's also disconnecting a bit more and not thinking, and it's something I'm not very good at. I like thinking and being in control, but [on Saturday] it wasn't helpful at all."

It is an unusually candid admission from a driver so early in his Formula 1 career, and one that speaks to the fine psychological margins that separate good qualifying runs from great ones at the highest level. That self-awareness will be crucial to his development — and it is worth noting that, even through the Sprint weekend, Hadjar had found encouragement in closing the gap to Verstappen, a sign that the pace is there when the pieces align.

For now, though, the one-time podium finisher heads into the Canadian Grand Prix with unfinished business — and a very clear understanding of where he needs to improve.