Getting to know the real Isack Hadjar

Formula 1 has welcomed several rookie drivers for the 2025 season, including new Racing Bulls recruit Isack Hadjar. But how did he fare when tackling our Getting to Know quickfire questions? From his dream dinner party guest list to his favourite television show, and bizarre fan gifts to the best advice he has ever received, the Frenchman shares all in the video player above and transcript below…

Can you describe yourself in three words?

Kind, short and fast!

What made you fall in love with F1?

Umm… Cars. The movie. And racing in general. F1? Just by watching TV. That’s it.

When and where did you first drive something?

The first time ever I was five years old, with a baby kart, basically. I remember it well. My driving licence? I passed it on the first time!

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 13: Isack Hadjar of France and Visa Cash App Racing Bulls looks on — Hadjar graduated to F1 after finishing as runner-up in last year’s F2 championship

Did it feel natural straight away?

In a kart? Oh yeah. Oh yeah. I felt right at home, you know?

When was the last time you cried with laughter?

On the phone with my mate.

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Anything you can tell us about that?

No, absolutely not! (Laughs).

Who’s your best friend inside the paddock?

Umm... In the F2 paddock I have two mates, Jak Crawford and Sami Meguetounif. They are both racing in F2, and these two I get along with the most.

Which three F1 personalities past or present would you invite to a dinner party and why?

James Hunt, obviously!

James Hunt (GBR) is unveiled as the new McLaren driver for 1976, sitting in a McLaren M23 with — F1 champion Hunt would make Hadjar’s all-time dinner party guest list

A few drivers have said that…

Yeah, James Hunt! Umm… Lando [Norris] or Max [Verstappen]. Who’s the best DJ between the two? Maybe Lando. And Yuki [Tsunoda].

Have you managed to speak with many of the drivers yet?

I know obviously all the rookies coming up, I’ve raced them since a while now. My team mate… Of course, I see him quite a lot nowadays. And I’m really close with Pierre [Gasly] as well.

What’s the best holiday you’ve been on?

A road trip in Japan with my sister. Solid. It was good.

Where did you go?

We landed in Tokyo. We went past Fuji by car, and basically we were stopping at every city in between, and coming back to Tokyo. That was good.

I thought you were going to say you stopped at every race circuit…

No, no, no, no, disconnect! We went by Suzuka, but we didn’t stop there – there’s not much to do there.

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If you had to take one driver to a desert island with you, who would it be and why?

I mean, we are all useless, to be fair (laughs). I would say Yuki, because he’s small, so he won’t need a lot of water!

Practical thinking there…

Yeah!

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What’s the worst travel experience you’ve ever had?

I have a few. I was about to go to Dubai and my passport was expiring, so I couldn’t go. That was tough. That was tough...

How many languages can you speak? And are there any others you would like to learn?

Only two (French and English). Two properly. I can understand slightly a bit of Arabic. I’m working on my Italian! I understand it pretty well. I need to start speaking it now a bit more. I know a bit of Japanese as well.

A good chance to learn some more with Yuki this year…

Exactly!

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 18: Yuki Tsunoda of Japan and Visa Cash App Racing Bulls and Isack — The 20-year-old has teamed up with Tsunoda at the Racing Bulls squad

What’s your favourite film and TV show of all time?

Breaking Bad. I have watched it twice and I wish I could forget it completely and start it again. I’ll try and watch it in 10 years’ time, and maybe I’ll forget! It would be really good.

What about the Better Call Saul prequel?

I didn’t like it! Pointless…

And a film?

Cars!

What would your karaoke song be?

Pff… Oh my God. I’m not a karaoke… I’ve never done a karaoke… What songs? I’ll just go French rap.

Maybe there’ll be an opportunity with Yuki at Suzuka this year…

Yeah, I’ll go French rap with Yuki!

What’s the strangest gift you’ve ever been given by a fan?

Umm… I got like a pair of glasses, but there were no glasses in it, so…

Have you still got them?

No, I threw them in the bin...

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 13: Isack Hadjar of France and Visa Cash App Racing Bulls meets some — Hadjar has already experienced some memorable moments with fans

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

It’s a hard one. I’m not really good with sayings. There’s one, like, ‘The more desperate the situation, the more opportunities’. Basically, never give up.

Which other job do you wish you could try for a day?

I want to go to space! Astronaut… Every day!

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Quite a few of the drivers have said that…

I just want to see planet Earth from outside, you know?

Where do you want to be in five years’ time?

In F1. Winning titles and stuff. That would be cool.

Sounds like a good plan…

Yeah!