After his crash at the Australian Grand Prix, rookie Formula 1 driver Isack Hadjar found himself at the center of a controversy involving comments from Helmut Marko, a Red Bull advisor. Marko had remarked to Austrian broadcaster ORF in Melbourne that Hadjar shed some tears following his mishap, describing it as “a bit embarrassing.”
While these comments gained attention, the majority of the community was rallying behind Hadjar after his unfortunate incident during the formation lap of his F1 debut. Ahead of the upcoming Chinese Grand Prix, Hadjar has clarified that he maintains a good relationship with Marko, having spoken with him directly.
Reflecting on the situation, Hadjar admitted, “I actually found it embarrassing myself. But I got a call from Helmut the very next day, and everything’s fine between us. I’ve known him for several years now and understand his ways.”
He added, “It’s also worth mentioning that he was speaking in German during the interview, and things can often get lost in translation. Without seeing the footage, it’s hard for me to say more about it.”
Despite the incident, Hadjar expressed appreciation for the overwhelming support he received from fans. “When I hit the wall, I didn’t expect the outpouring of love from everyone, and that was truly heartwarming.”
In other news around the F1 world, McLaren’s Lando Norris is confident that the team won’t be impacted by the recent clampdown on rear wings. Meanwhile, the sport mourns the loss of former team owner Eddie Jordan, who passed away at 76, with tributes flooding in for the F1 legend.
Returning to Hadjar, he shared how Lewis Hamilton and his family offered him support after the crash. Lewis’s father, Anthony, was there to console him, drawing parallels to when Lewis had a similar incident in Shanghai. “Spending that moment with Anthony was incredible, and later to receive a message from Lewis really showed their class,” mentioned Hadjar.
Despite the initial disappointment, Hadjar managed to bounce back quickly, helped by the fact that another race in Shanghai was just around the corner. “By Monday, I was feeling much better. The back-to-back races don’t give you much time to dwell, and I’m eager to get back on track,” he shared with determination.
