Praise for rookie: 'Just like Verstappen wasn't intimidated by Hamilton'

14:15, 12 Apr

bySavannah Lenz

After losing the F2 championship and then not starting the Australian Grand Prix, there have been doubts about Isack Hadjar and whether or not he could be a successful F1 driver. However, he has been proving himself steadily, which is something former F1 driver Jan Lammers has been surprised by.

Last year, Hadjar finished second place in the Formula 2 championship. He lost to Gabriel Bortoleto, who also moved up to Formula 1 this year. Hadjar has also been known to get angry over the board radios however, that is something he left behind. Hadjar is impressing people left and right at Racing Bulls.

According to Jan Lammers, in his column in De Telegraaf, getting to learn new drivers and being surprised by them is an enjoyable part of F1. "We are only three races in, but if there is one rookie I completely misjudged, it is Isack Hadjar from Racing Bulls. Before this year, I said he could face a very tough challenge," reflects Lammers.

Lammers draws a comparison to Verstappen

Hadjar started the season with a crash in the formation lap in Melbourne, but according to the Dutchman, he has 'fantastically' recovered. What Lammers notices most is 'a kind of inner peace' in the youngster. "As if he is not at all intimidated by Formula 1 or by the people around him. You need that kind of demeanor to stand your ground. Just like Verstappen has never been intimidated by Lewis Hamilton," explains Lammers.

This article was written in collaboration with Ludo van Denderen.