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Racing Bulls under fire for "totally wrong" strategy: 'Threw away points'
After a difficult start to his season in Australia, Isack Hadjar managed to bounce back in Shanghai. The Racing Bulls driver, together with his fellow rookies, continues to receive high praise for his performance last weekend, even if his team got its strategy wrong.
The Frenchman completed his first Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit, after he crashed on the formation lap at Albert Park a week prior. The former owner of the team before it was purchased by the Red Bull family, Gian Carlo Minardi, also had high praise for the rookie.
"Once again, I would like to congratulate the rookies. Particularly Isack Hadjar who redeemed the bad impression in Australia," he wrote on his team's website.
The Italian believes Racing Bulls missing out on points was all but his, or Yuki Tsunoda's, fault. "Racing Bulls managed to wipe out an excellent job by the team and its drivers with a totally wrong strategy that kept them outside the top 10 despite Ferrari’s double disqualification. They threw away important points, to the advantage of their direct rivals."
Minardi was also left encouraged by the other rookies on the grid and was critical of a penalty given to Alpine's Jack Doohan after contact with Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto in the sprint: "I found the Jack Doohan’s penalty excessive.
While Andrea Kimi Antonelli was surprised to get the 'Driver of the Day' award after the race, he also got the plaudits from his compatriot. "Once again in the points with the Mercedes and without making any mistakes, he occupies fifth place in the overall ladder."
This article was written in collaboration with Estéban den Toom
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