Isack Hadjar expressed his disdain for F1 Dash Races after a troublesome Singapore GP, claiming that they require drivers to ‘get fortunate’.
The Singapore Grand Prix was an uphill battle for the younger Pink Bull driver. From an excessive amount of bottoming within the sole Free Follow session to energy unit failures, Hadjar spent the weekend battling his RB22. The Frenchman suffered a retirement within the Dash, whereas the Grand Prix noticed him end P10.
“That’s the issue with these weekends the place you don’t get to work on the automotive,” Hadjar mentioned after qualifying in Singapore.”
Discourse round Dash Races has continued since their introduction, with F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali insisting they bring about leisure to the display. Nonetheless, each followers and drivers haven’t been significantly keen on the idea, particularly beneath the 2026 rules.
With a sole observe session earlier than a robust efficiency is required in Dash Qualification and the Dash, it leaves little room for drivers and groups to assemble needed knowledge and modify accordingly.
“Like, it’s unattainable. You simply sort of have to get fortunate. There’s no work,” Hadjar continued. “I suppose it’s not entertaining for individuals to look at us do a number of checks, however it’s necessary to us, and now…
“The automotive was dealing with terribly. I used to be excited for in the present day to see what the change introduced; I used to be excited to see what I may do with the engine that was working positive, and I don’t get to do it. It’s onerous to be taught something on weekends like that.”
Hadjar essential of Dash weekends
As Hadjar acknowledged, studying turns into troublesome throughout a Dash weekend. One other drawback is how a lot, or how little, drivers are prepared to threat within the Dash, since they should be prepared for Grand Prix qualifying only some hours later. As a robust Grand Prix end secures considerably extra factors than a Dash, the precedence is obvious.
Regardless of this, F1 continues so as to add Sprints to the calendar, with the 2027 season that includes 10 Dash weekends. Certainly one of them is on the historic Monaco observe, the place overtaking is almost unattainable within the trendy period of F1.
When requested whether or not the format added something to the race weekend, the Frenchman was not sure whether or not Sprints have been worthwhile.
“Possibly it rewards the those that don’t actually work very well. Possibly. I simply don’t prefer it. I used to, final 12 months. However truly, whenever you develop up a bit, you’ve a tricky teammate subsequent to you, you get the work going and… I don’t just like the dash anymore.
“I don’t know who makes these choices. Subsequent 12 months, now we have a dash race in Monaco. How on the planet do you assume that’s going to occur? What do you assume goes to occur? Do you assume it’s going to be overtakes?”
After a journalist replied with a easy no to his questions, Hadjar continued. “So why are we doing it? It’s simply very disappointing, and there are increasingly more of them.”
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