Isack Hadjar: From Frustrated F2 Star to F1's Bright Hope

Discover Isack Hadjar's inspiring journey from karting to F1, representing his Arab heritage and showcasing his talent and maturity on the track.

Formula One rookie Isack Hadjar proudly displays two flags in his room: the French tricolore and Algeria's red star and crescent on green and white. Born in Paris to Algerian scientist parents, Hadjar competes with a French license but stands out in the sport for his North African heritage.

Hadjar feels a strong connection to both countries, stating, “I feel I am representing two countries.” He acknowledges the significance of being the first Arab driver in Formula 1, saying it's “huge” despite receiving little attention.

The record books note Robert La Caze, a French-born driver who competed as a Moroccan in the 1958 Moroccan Grand Prix, as the only other North African driver since the world championship began in 1950. More recently, Brazilian driver Felipe Nasr, whose grandfather emigrated from Lebanon, represented the closest link to Arab representation in F1, racing in 2015-16.

With four races in the Middle East and none featuring a local driver, Hadjar's presence is significant. After a frustrating debut in Melbourne where he crashed on the formation lap, Hadjar redeemed himself with five points from two races. Helmut Marko, Red Bull's motorsport consultant, praised him, saying, “Hadjar is the surprise of the season... He’s calm and always there... he’s a really big guy coming up for the future.”

Hadjar on Marko's 'Petit Prost' Remark

Helmut Marko once referred to Isack Hadjar as “Petit Prost,” a nod to France's four-time world champion Alain Prost. However, Hadjar revealed the reason behind this nickname was more lighthearted, saying, “I was just chewing my fingernails and he said 'Yeah, like Prost'... It's that simple.” Hadjar added that he doesn't mind the comparison, acknowledging Prost as a legend.

"I really enjoyed it" 💪

Isack Hadjar is overall very happy with his race in Saudi Arabia 😀#F1 #SaudiArabianGP pic.twitter.com/Em9PPb8g6U

— Formula 1 (@F1) April 20, 2025

As Hadjar grew older, his appreciation for Prost increased. ”When you are a kid, you just think about speed and bright colours... And then later on Lewis (Hamilton),” he said. Hadjar believes Prost's career is underrated, stating, “I just think that his career is really underrated”  He admires Prost's tactical approach to racing, reflecting his own father's advice to use his head and think critically while driving.

Growing up, Isack Hadjar's interest in racing was sparked by the movie Cars and watching Formula 1 with his father Yassine, a senior researcher in quantum mechanics. He began karting at age seven and eventually progressed to Formula 2, where he was runner-up last season.

Hadjar reflected on his past frustration in Formula 2, saying, “You play with the limits of what's allowed... You want to go to Formula One, the team messes up, you're mad at them on the radio, and you say what you think.” However, in Formula 1, he has adopted a more professional demeanor, stating, “Here, it's completely different. You get paid to drive. It's the coolest job on earth, you don't shout at people. It's not possible... If I want to shout, I shout in my helmet.”