The Bahrain Grand Prix delivered a gut punch to Isack Hadjar, as a potential podium finish slipped away after a late battery issue left him powerless against the charging Ferrari duo of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.
Key Points
- Isack Hadjar lost crucial battery power in the closing stages of the Bahrain Grand Prix.
- The power loss left him unable to defend against Ferrari rivals Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.
- A potential podium became a fifth-place finish after a strong recovery drive from eighth on the grid.
- Red Bull now has to investigate the issue before the next race in Singapore.
Podium Dream Turned Nightmare for Hadjar
Despite starting eighth on the grid because of a five-place penalty, Isack Hadjar mounted an impressive recovery at the Bahrain Grand Prix. Starting on the better intermediate tyre allowed the Red Bull driver to take advantage of rivals who struggled on slicks, including both Ferraris.
Hadjar had also qualified ahead of both Mercedes cars, underlining the pace he had shown throughout the weekend. A podium finish was firmly within reach as the race unfolded.
The Crucial Mid-Race Pit Stop
When Williams' Alex Albon came to a stop at Turn 2 after reporting a gearbox issue, Hadjar pitted under the Virtual Safety Car. The timing worked in his favour. He emerged in fourth, before George Russell's power unit problems promoted him to third.
Suddenly, Hadjar was sitting in a podium position and appeared capable of holding on. But the restart exposed a problem that would ultimately cost him two places.
Battery Failure Leaves Hadjar Defenceless
As the race restarted, Hadjar suddenly found himself without the battery power needed to defend on the straights. Lewis Hamilton, who had been around 15 seconds behind, rapidly closed the gap and attacked Hadjar on the run down to Turn 1. The Ferrari driver made the pass, with Charles Leclerc following a lap later to demote Hadjar to fifth.
Hadjar was understandably frustrated after the race, admitting that he had no pace and something was clearly wrong with the car. He said the issue was particularly confusing because Red Bull had been quicker than Mercedes throughout the weekend, only for the car to suddenly lose performance in the race.
The problem appeared most severe during the first couple of laps after the restart, when Hadjar felt he had almost no battery available. He eventually regained performance, but by then Hamilton and Leclerc had already taken advantage.
Tyre Choice Added to Hadjar's Frustration
Hadjar also felt the restart became even more difficult because of his tyre situation. After the safety car period, he felt he had returned to the wrong compound and struggled for grip, even while following the safety car. That left him concerned about defending his position before the race had properly resumed.
Once the battery issue stabilised, Hadjar said he was fast again. Without the problem, he believed he could have maintained third place. Instead, the Red Bull driver had to settle for fifth, turning what looked like a breakthrough podium into a frustrating near-miss.
Red Bull Has Work to Do Before Singapore
Hadjar's recovery from eighth to fifth still delivered 10 points, but the result left plenty of frustration within the Red Bull camp. The team now has to understand why the battery performance suddenly disappeared during the restart and ensure the problem does not return at Singapore.
For Hadjar, the message is simple: the pace was there, the podium was there, and only the technical issue stood between him and his first top-three finish. Red Bull now has its homework to complete before Singapore. Hadjar clearly expects the team to return with answers — and a more reliable car.
