Isack Hadjar Smashes Wall at Red Bull’s Tokyo Showrun

Tokyo, Japan — Isack Hadjar faced an unexpected challenge during Red Bull‘s showrun in Tokyo on Wednesday, ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix. The rookie driver humorously shrugged off the incident, where he collided with a wall while attempting to navigate a tricky hairpin corner.

Hadjar, who is part of the Racing Bulls team, encountered difficulty as he powered through the street course, resulting in damage to his front wing. The left side of the wing sagged dangerously low after the accident, prompting a Red Bull mechanic to step in and assist him. Despite the setback, Hadjar managed to continue but almost encountered the wall again while trying to adopt a more cautious approach.

‘I clipped the front wing,’ Hadjar said, remaining light-hearted about the incident. ‘It was really good, [aside from that]. First time running V8 engines. It was really nice, I loved it!’

The showrun was designed to honor Honda, featuring all four Red Bull drivers, including Yuki Tsunoda, who has transitioned to the senior team alongside reigning champion Max Verstappen. This event presented an opportunity for Hadjar to meet fans as he prepares for his debut at the Suzuka circuit.

When discussing his new teammate, Liam Lawson, who now joins him after a challenging tenure with the senior team, Hadjar expressed optimism. ‘I think we’re gonna work just fine together,’ he said. ‘I just focus on what I’m doing. I don’t need anyone special alongside me to push myself to drive as fast as I can.’

Addressing the unusual nature of the showrun, where drivers had to quickly adapt to new team dynamics, Hadjar remarked, ‘It’s maybe weird for everyone except the drivers, because we know what’s going on and how hard this sport is. So, between us, there are no awkward situations at all.’

With the imminent changes in team line-ups, speculation surrounding potential future roles intensified. Hadjar noted, ‘In the Red Bull family, it’s all about performance. The guy who is performing has a higher chance to get the Red Bull seat next to Max.’ He emphasized the high-pressure environment, stating that performance is the primary determinant of a driver’s future at Red Bull.

As he approaches his third race weekend, Hadjar is focused on being more aggressive in his driving. Following a cautious strategy at the recent Chinese Grand Prix, he admitted, ‘I was a bit too cautious, because I really wanted the mileage.’ Now, he plans to adjust his approach to capitalize on the momentum from his previous race.

The event was not only a public showcase but also an essential stepping stone as Red Bull prepares for the competitive atmosphere at Suzuka, particularly with Honda’s historical ties to the team. Hadjar’s light-hearted attitude towards the wall incident reflects his commitment to growth and improvement in an intensely competitive arena.