Hadjar Hails “Incredible” Maiden F1 Podium in 2025 Dutch GP

Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar has hailed an “incredible” maiden F1 podium with third place at 2025 Dutch Grand Prix. 

Hadjar crucially fought off Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc at the start to retain fourth which he held until McLaren’s Lando Norris retired from second place with an oil leak on lap 65, which gifted the 20-year-old Frenchman a third-placed finish and his maiden podium appearance in his rookie season.

The result promoted Hadjar up to tenth in the constructors’ standing with the youngster chuffed to achieve his first podium finish in his 15th F1 Grand Prix.

“This is what I’ve always dreamed of, and it feels incredible, I’m absolutely over the moon. The team has worked so hard to get us here today, and I couldn’t be prouder. I didn’t expect today’s result, but achieving one of my dreams makes it even more special.

“It was a tough race physically, especially after the break. I had a tricky start, but we did this on pure pace and merit. I knew I had to nail the final safety car restart, so I defended as hard as I could and brought it home.”

Hadjar however acknowledged Leclerc for giving him some hard battles in the race until the Monegasque got spun out by Mercedes’ Andrea Kimi Antonelli just after his second stop on lap 53, but is thankful to his family and Red Bull for their work to get him to this moment.

“The battles were intense, especially in the opening laps, with the pressure from other cars, but we held strong. There are so many people to thank, from my family to the Red Bull family.”

Team Principal, Alan Permane praised Hadjar for “a faultless race,” but iterated that he earned it on merit despite having only “inherited” his result through Norris’ retirement.

“It might have been an inherited 3rd place, however Isack put himself in the strongest position possible to do that, which he did the whole race. He excelled all weekend; after such a great Qualifying it was good to see the pace of the car in the race and he was running at a very comfortable 4th place and had no real threats from behind.”