F2 star highly critical of Formula 1: 'the grid would've looked different'

The road to where Hadjar is today as leader of the F2 championship was not without challenges. Due to a lack of financial resources, he initially struggled to find his way in the sport. "I didn't have such good memories of karting," he says in conversation with Red Bull.

"In karting, I was never in the right circumstances. My father was in charge of mechanics for a very long time, while others had private teams. I was never able to finish the whole calendar or have the best engine. It was also frustrating to have to go back to school after a race, while others went testing because they were homeschooled. I never had that route."

Hamilton the 'exception'

Lewis Hamilton is the most famous example of a driver who made it without having a lot of money. However, according to Hadjar, that is not proof that the system works. "He is the exception that proves the rule," the Frenchman says.

Finally, the youngster has some critical words for Formula 1. He hopes that change will come soon so some more drivers from underprivileged backgrounds are granted junior opportunities. "The grid is not in good shape. A lot of drivers cannot maximise their potential because it is all so expensive. If Formula 1 was as accessible as football, the starting grid would have looked different now."

This article was written in collaboration with Toby Nixon