Hadjar Frustrated by P8 Finish: « The Execution Was a Bit Rotten »
Isack Hadjar secured a solid four points for the Racing Bulls team with an eighth-place finish at the 2025 São Paulo Grand Prix. But in a sign of his growing ambitions, the driver was far from satisfied, bluntly stating that a « rotten execution » prevented a much stronger result.
While a P8 finish is a valuable haul of points for the team, Hadjar’s post-race comments revealed a deep frustration with how the race unfolded, suggesting the car had the pace for significantly more.
A Missed Opportunity for More
Hadjar’s frustration stemmed from a belief that the potential of his VCARB car was not fully realized at Interlagos. Throughout the race, he showed competitive pace that he felt should have allowed him to fight for positions higher up the order, potentially challenging for P6 or P7.
Instead, he found himself locked in difficult on-track battles, feeling that the team’s operational performance had let him down. He finished the race convinced that a cleaner race, operationally, would have yielded a better outcome.
What Does « Rotten Execution » Mean?
When asked to elaborate, Hadjar pointed to a generally messy race performance. « The execution was a bit rotten, » he told reporters. « I think we could have scored more points today. »
In Formula 1, « execution » covers a wide range of team operations. Hadjar’s comments likely refer to a combination of factors that compromised his race:
- Strategy Calls: The timing of his pit stops may have dropped him into traffic or failed to provide a strategic advantage over his key rivals.
- Pit Stop Speed: A slow or fumbled pit stop, even by a few tenths of a second, can be the difference between holding track position and losing it.
- On-Track Management: The team’s instructions or his own inability to clear traffic quickly may have also contributed to the feeling of a missed opportunity.
Ultimately, Hadjar felt that these small operational failures accumulated, preventing him from translating the car’s true pace into a top-tier result.
A Sign of Rising Standards
While his words may sound harsh, Hadjar’s frustration is also a positive sign for the Racing Bulls team. It demonstrates that the driver is no longer satisfied with simply scraping into the points.
His standards are high, and he is pushing both himself and the team to maximize every opportunity. As the midfield battle intensifies, Hadjar knows that « rotten execution » is the difference between a minor points finish and a significant haul that could change their standing in the constructors’ championship.
Sources
- L’Équipe. « Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls), 8e du GP de São Paulo : ‘L’exécution était un peu pourrie’. » (November 9, 2025).
- Auto-Hebdo. « Hadjar frustré par sa P8 : ‘On pouvait espérer mieux’. » (November 9, 2025).
- Motorsport.com. « Hadjar laments ‘rotten execution’ after ‘frustrating’ P8 in Brazil. » (November 9, 2025).