Isack Hadjar has not had a pleasant start to his time as a Red Bull driver. The French-Algerian driver became the second retirement of the Australian GP in Melbourne, after home hero Oscar Piastri crashed even before the start of the race. Due to an engine problem, Hadjar came to a standstill in the eleventh lap, and the race was over for the brand-new Red Bull driver.
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Isack Hadjar’s retirement was not entirely unexpected for the Red Bull team itself. Team principal Laurent Mekies was not yet completely satisfied with the car prior to the race and already tempered expectations during the test days in Bahrain. “We will certainly experience some uncomfortable moments, where the gap to the competition is too large, or the car stops on the track, or doesn’t even leave the pit box,” the Frenchman predicted Hadjar’s fate in Melbourne in hindsight. “It’s part of it, but we are happy to be there anyway.”
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Watch Hadjar’s moment here:
Hadjar out we move up to 8th with Gabs #audif1 #AustralianGP pic.twitter.com/XYv7pgI5rz
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