Hadjar feeling Campos Racing pace immediately after session-topping effort on Day 3

1 December 2023

Fastest on the final day of on-track action in 2023, Isack Hadjar was pleased to have made such a positive start to life as a Campos Racing driver ahead of next year.

The Frenchman set the quickest time of the day in the morning session at the Yas Marina Circuit, logging a 1:35.958, as the Spanish outfit focused on short stint pace ahead of an afternoon of race simulation.

“It was really good, I’ve had a really good feeling since day one with the car,” Hadjar said after Day 3. “I’ve been really strong on the short runs and now there’s more to come on longer stints.

“The programme has been centred on short runs in the morning and then in the afternoon, longer stints, that’s pretty much how we’ve split it. It’s really important to nail the Feature Race simulations.

Switching from Hitech Pulse-Eight to Campos for 2024, Hadjar says he is looking to build on what he admits was perhaps the toughest season he’s experienced in racing.

With his only P1 finish not counting for points due to the Zandvoort Sprint Race’s shortened length, 2023 was a year of adaptation for Hadjar as he got to grips with Formula 2 as a rookie.

Now, with a rejuvenated Campos team around him and with the learning experiences of the past year under his belt, he’s aiming for a major rebound in 2024.

“It’s a different culture, Spanish team and the atmosphere is great, really good people around and, most importantly, the car is fast.

“I have no regrets from 2023. I gave my best and it’s how it is. F2 is a really tough Championship as a rookie. I have one year of experience now, I feel so much stronger, and I feel like I also never really had a car that suited me. I lost some good points but that’s part of my experience I guess and how I grow as a driver and human.

“It was an important year to have. I think it was the first season I felt I had that I was not successful in, which was a weird experience.”

With post-season testing now in the books and track action done for another season, focus now switches to recharging the batteries and getting as prepared as possible over the winter break.

For Hadjar, it will represent the chance to go home and see family and friends after a substantial racing programme in the final quarter of the year. F1 appearances with AlphaTauri and Red Bull Racing came alongside the final F2 rounds of the season, meaning the upcoming break is a very welcome respite.

“It’s going to be good to go back to Paris. It’s been so much testing, travelling, driving since about September so I need to go back and catch up with friends, spend time with family and just prepare ahead of next year. It’s going to be the most important one of my career I believe, so I need to get it ready.”