Isack Hadjar delivered a strong performance in qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, securing fourth place. However, he believes he could have started from the front row if he hadn't missed three races due to a wrist injury. "I just need more laps in the car to actually be second," he told media, including Motorsport.com.
Solid Performance in Baku
Hadjar set a time of 1m43.500s in Q3, just 0.137s slower than Charles Leclerc in second. The gap to polesitter George Russell was too large to challenge. Notably, he was also faster than Max Verstappen, who ended up eighth.
"I'm happy with myself. If I had been racing the last three races, I would definitely be second," he asserted. "It's a tough track to come back to after two months."
Smart Approach
Baku is Hadjar's first race since the Hungarian GP in late July. He missed Zandvoort, Monza, and Madrid due to a wrist injury. On his return, he deliberately built confidence step by step. "I told myself it's mandatory not to touch the wall. There's no point taking risks," he explained. "I was driving a bit under the limits the whole weekend, especially in tight sections. The smart approach paid off."
Car Improvements
Hadjar also felt positive changes in his Red Bull car. "It feels better in the corners than when I left the car in Budapest. There's a step in balance," he said. However, he admitted Mercedes is still too fast, especially on straights. "Mercedes are just fast in the straights. In sector three, we're struggling a lot," he added.
Fourth place in Azerbaijan is Hadjar's best qualifying result since the season opener in Melbourne, where he started third. With this performance, he is optimistic about a stronger race.
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