Arab Racing Pioneer Displays Dual National Flags in F1 Races
From Parisian Streets to Formula One Tracks:
Meet Isack Hadjar, the trailblazing Formula One rookie sporting a unique blend of French tricolore and Algerian red star and crescent in his room. Born to Algerian scientist parents in the heart of Paris, Hadjar stands out at the highest echelons of motorsport, championing his North African roots as well as his results.
"Got two nations on my back," Hadjar shared with our website in Saudi Arabia, embracing his role as the first Arab driver to storm the Formula One circuit, a feat that might have gone unnoticed but is nothing short of groundbreaking.
You'll find only one other North African driver in the record books since the inception of the world championship in 1950. French-born Robert La Caze, who raced as a Moroccan in 1958, marked the rare presence of North Africans in the sport. Post-La Caze, the closest Formula One came to an Arab driver was Brazilian Felipe Nasr, whose grandfather originated from Lebanon.
The Middle East hosts four races on the calendar with no home driver and Africa remains conspicuously absent.
Despite a disheartening start in Melbourne where frustration forced the 20-year-old to tears on the formation lap, Hadjar quickly rebounded with five points from two subsequent races. And that's catching the attention of industry veterans like Red Bull's Helmut Marko, who's already hailing Hadjar as a force to be reckoned with for the future.
Referred to as 'Petit Prost' by Marko, Hadjar views the title as a mundane nod rather than a grand comparison to the four-time world champion, Alain Prost. Growing up, Hadjar admired Prost's fiery rival Ayrton Senna, but with age he's also learnt to appreciate Prost's tactical brilliance.
"Discount the recognition, Prost deserves more," Hadjar expressed. "I come from a lineage of thinkers, and I aim to apply that strategy behind the wheel."
Hadjar's racing journey was sparked by the animated movie 'Cars' and shared weekends with his fatherYassine, a renowned senior researcher in quantum mechanics, glued to Formula One. By seven, Hadjar began karting and finished second in Formula Two last season, a season laced with frustration that he's since left behind.
"I used to bend rules in Formula Two," Hadjar admitted. "But times have changed. Here, I deliver results, stay calm, and keep my focus."
- Nasr, who is of Lebanese descent like Hadjar, was the closest Formula One came to having an Arab driver before Hadjar.
- In sports-analysis circles, Helmut Marko, a Red Bull executive, has definitely singled out Hadjar as a promising talent for the future.
- Hadjar, who cares deeply about sports, grew up idolizing Ayrton Senna but with age, he has also learnt to appreciate the tactical brilliance of Alain Prost, another great in sports from France.
