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Motorsport

Lydia Mee

Isack Hadjar lauded after impressive Red Bull recovery at F1 Belgian GP

Isack Hadjar Red Bull Bernie Collins Karun Chandhok Max Verstappen

Bernie Collins and Karun Chandhok have praised Red Bull's Isack Hadjar after a stellar weekend at the Belgian Grand Prix.

The Sky Sports Formula 1 pundits applauded the French-Algerian driver for being the ultimate team player in qualifying and his charge from the back of the grid to finish sixth in the race.

Entering the 10th round of the 2026 season at Spa-Francorchamps, Hadjar faced a massive 30-place grid penalty for exceeding his power unit allocation, confining him to the rear of the grid.

As a result, the 21-year-old used the opportunity to aid his team-mate Max Verstappen by giving him a tow during qualifying.

Speaking on Sky Sports F1 after the race, in which Hadjar finished sixth and Verstappen finished third, Chandhok explained: "I was asking some of the Red Bull guys on the grid about the slipstream yesterday, and they said Isack came on the radio and said, 'Look, I know what you guys want, you want me to give Max the best slipstream, don't micromanage it from the pitwall, I will keep an eye on my battery, I'll keep an eye on the mirrors, and I'll do it,' and he did it."

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing (Photo by: Marc Fleury)

In the race, Hadjar executed a brilliant strategy to climb from 21st on the starting grid to cross the line in an impressive sixth place.

"Fantastic strategy from the back of the grid. He really stuck with it through that hard stint to be ready to defend against Lando Norris," Collins explained.

Hadjar leaves Belgium sitting eighth in the drivers' championship with 60 points, 31 points behind his team-mate, who sits seventh with 91 points. The Red Bull drivers are still some way off the leaders, though. Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli, who successfully converted pole position into a race win in Belgium, leads with 204 points.

Photos from Belgian GP - Sunday

50 Formula 1

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari; Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Nico Hülkenberg, Audi F1 Team

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Carlos Sainz, Williams

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

George Russell, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

George Russell, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Alpine F1 Team pit lane message

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing, Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Alexander Albon, Williams, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Andy Stevenson, Sporting Director, Aston Martin F1 Team

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

George Russell, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Nico Hulkenberg, Audi F1 Team

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Jacques Villeneuve arrives in the paddock.

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

George Russell, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Carlos Sainz, Williams

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

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