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Simon Lazenby shares what jubilant Racing Bulls staff said off the record after Isack Hadjar heroics

Racing Bulls have enjoyed a great run of form in recent races, courtesy of rookie Isack Hadjar as he continues to impress in F1.

The Frenchman has had a strong start to life at the Faenza outfit. Since his heartbreaking retirement on the formation lap in Melbourne, Hadjar has displayed great pace with regular Q3 appearances and points finishes.

Hadjar scored points in every race in the European triple header in Imola, Monaco and Spain. His form has seen him move into ninth in the drivers’ championship.

Position Drivers’ Championship Points
1

Oscar Piastri

186
2

Lando Norris

176
3

Max Verstappen

137
4

George Russell

111
5

Charles Leclerc

94
6

Lewis Hamilton

71
7

Andrea Kimi Antonelli

48
8

Alexander Albon

42
9

Isack Hadjar

21
10

Esteban Ocon

20

Helmut Marko has been very impressed by Hadjar after he registered his career-best finish of sixth in Monaco. His consistency has helped guide Racing Bulls ahead of Haas into sixth in the constructors’ championship.

Teammate Liam Lawson got his first points of 2025 on the board with P8 in Monaco. Team principal Laurent Mekies says Lawson’s work is going unnoticed as he is pushing really hard behind the scenes to improve after his demotion from Red Bull.

Isack Hadjar in the Racing Bulls pit box at the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix
Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images

Jubilant Racing Bulls staff were ‘at pains to say’ that they outscored Mercedes in the European triple header

Racing Bulls’ form have made them serious contenders in the midfield in 2025. It has even seen them outperform frontrunners in recent races.

Mercedes had a disastrous triple header, with Kimi Antonelli failing to score a point after suffering two mechanical issues at Imola and Barcelona. George Russell scored 18 points in the last three races, which is two less than what Hadjar and Lawson managed for Racing Bulls.

Hadjar Lawson Russell Antonelli
Emilia Romagna GP 9th 14th 7th DNF
Monaco GP 6th 8th 11th 18th
Spanish GP 7th 11th 4th DNF
Points 16 4 18 0
Racing Bulls v Mercedes in the last three Grand Prix

Speaking via The F1 Show, Simon Lazenby shared how staff of the Faenza squad were ‘at pains to say’ they had outscored Mercedes in the triple header while at the airport after the Spanish Grand Prix.

“It just wasn’t good for them, the whole triple header. Kimi Antonelli, one point, suffering, that was the word [that Toto Wolff used],” said Lazenby.

“One point across the triple header. He had mechanical failures in Imola and Barcelona, out in Q2 in Monaco and Imola.

“In fact, Racing Bulls outscored them. We saw a couple of the guys in the airport and they were at pains to say that we outscored them.”

READ MORE: Who is Racing Bulls 2025 F1 driver Isack Hadjar? Everything you need to know

Racing Bulls drivers Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar at the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix
Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images

Racing Bulls must not change their driver line-up again in 2025

Hadjar has learned a lot from hero Lewis Hamilton after studying his onboard footage as a child. The 20-year-old has taken that knowledge into his stride as he stands as arguably the most impressive rookie of 2025 thus far.

With his solid results, speculation has begun to swirl about his future within the Red Bull setup. Yuki Tsunoda’s contract is up in 2025, opening the door at the second seat next to Max Verstappen.

Position Constructors’ Standings Points
1

McLaren Racing

362
2

Scuderia Ferrari

165
3

Mercedes-AMG Petronas

159
4

Red Bull Racing

144
5

Williams F1 Team

54
6

Racing Bulls

28
7

Haas F1 Team

26
8

Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber

16
9

Aston Martin F1 Team

16
10

Alpine F1 Team

11

With Tsunoda struggling in the RB21, Hadjar is the ‘hottest candidate’ to join Red Bull in 2026. However, with the long history of drivers failing to perform in the second car, Racing Bulls cannot afford to lose the Frenchman this early.

Franck Montagny has begged Red Bull to not promote Hadjar in 2025. The 20-year-old is still learning the ropes in F1 and needs time to develop properly, rather than be thrust into a high-pressure situation.

Lawson suffered that exact fate in the first two races before he was dropped back to Racing Bulls. The New Zealander must be given the time to regain his confidence in a more familiar environment.

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