Qualifying for the 2024 Formula 2 race in Las Vegas saw Isack Hadjar facing a challenging situation as he narrowly avoided an incident that could have derailed his qualifying efforts. During Q3, the young driver found himself behind McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who had just aborted his lap due to a braking error and was apparently slowing down on the track. Hadjar, who had shown impressive pace throughout the session, had to react quickly to dodge the stationary car, ultimately finishing eighth when he had the potential to place higher.
Hadjar expressed his frustration over the situation, stating, “I almost blew it up! When there’s a yellow flag, you have to slow down, but you shouldn’t slam on the brakes like that. I was behind him… I don’t care what he did, the main thing is that I get the yellow flag when I’m on a great lap.” Despite his disappointment, Hadjar acknowledged that he felt comfortable in the wet conditions and had a solid pace, making the P8 result less than satisfactory.
Piastri later reflected on the incident, noting, “There was a yellow flag when Isack appeared. I had eased up. Maybe he hadn’t eased up as much as I had.” Race control reviewed the incident but decided not to issue any penalties, reasoning that Hadjar may not have sufficiently slowed down as required under the yellow flag.
Looking ahead, Hadjar holds a promising position to earn points after previously scoring four in São Paulo. However, he will need to defend against competitors such as Charles Leclerc, who qualified ninth, alongside other seasoned drivers like Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Antonelli, who were caught out in earlier qualifying rounds.
Hadjar’s resilience and skill in handling the wet conditions serve as a reminder of his potential in the championship. With strong performances and adaptation, he remains a driver to watch in the upcoming race.