After crashing his Racing Bulls F1 car on the formation lap in the wet conditions of Albert Park, Isack Hadjar made the lonely walk back to the paddock — with sympathy coming from everyone except, perhaps, Helmut Marko.
The Australian Grand Prix was a rollercoaster of emotions from start to finish. Unpredictable weather, unexpected retirements, and fierce on-track battles kept fans on the edge of their seats. From dramatic crashes to triumphant drives, the race had it all. But for one young driver, it became a painful learning moment.
As Isack Hadjar made the long walk back to the paddock after crashing his Racing Bulls car on the formation lap of a wet Australian Grand Prix, many felt sympathy for the young driver — all except, perhaps, Helmut Marko. But amidst the disappointment and tears, Hadjar received comfort from an unexpected source: Anthony Hamilton.
Isack Hadjar will surely remember Anthony Hamilton’s wise words
Anthony, father of seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton, was in the Ferrari garage to witness his son’s first race with the Scuderia. Yet, upon seeing the devastated 20-year-old making his way back, head bowed and fighting to hide his tears, Anthony Hamilton stepped forward to offer words of support.
“When I saw it happen, my heart just sank for him,” Hamilton told Sky F1. “Not just for him, but for his parents, for everything they’ve sacrificed to help him reach this point. And then it’s snatched away in a moment.
“I just thought, ‘You know what? I need to go tell this kid: keep your head high, walk tall, and you’ll come back.’ I think he’s a phenomenal driver. There’s definitely more to come from Isack than we’ve seen so far.”
The gesture deeply touched Hadjar. “It means a lot knowing he knew who I was, how I felt, and came to see me in my worst moment,” he shared. “I really appreciate that.”
Recalling Anthony’s words, Hadjar said: “He told me to keep my head high, improve myself, and reminded me I did well yesterday. It was really nice to hear.”
Stefano Domenicali and Christian Horner words
Hamilton Sr. wasn’t the only figure to offer support. Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali also visited the Racing Bulls hospitality area to console the young driver.
“Stefano came into my room and said similar things,” Hadjar added. “It’s great to see this level of support from the team and the paddock. It means a lot.”
Christian Horner, Red Bull Racing’s Team Principal, struck a far more understanding tone. “It was quite heart-wrenching to see him so gutted,” Horner said. “This was his first Grand Prix, and yes, it ended badly, but he showed great pace in practice and qualifying.
“You forget that these guys are just kids. There’s a lot of emotion involved. But when he reflects on the weekend, he’ll see there are plenty of positives, and he has many bright days ahead of him.”
The post Anthony Hamilton’s heartfelt gesture to Isack Hadjar was an absolute class act in the Paddock appeared first on HITC.
