Isack Hadjar has repeatedly named Lewis Hamilton as his idol. He regards the seven-time world champion as the greatest driver of all time.
But very few F1 experts, if any, still believe Hamilton is the best driver on the grid. His first Ferrari season has been mediocre at best so far.
Hamilton pulled his qualifying battle with Charles Leclerc back to 7-3 as he outpaced the Monegasque for the second successive race in Canada last weekend. But he slipped back in an anonymous, damage-affected race.
Leclerc has now beaten Hamilton in eight of the nine Grands Prix where both drivers have been classified. The gap between the two in the championship has grown to 25 points.
Isack Hadjar says Lewis Hamilton used to be ‘mighty’ during F1 races
During F1’s Beyond the Grid podcast, Hadjar shared what he admired most about Hamilton when he watched him as a child. He was in awe of the British driver’s race pace.
It felt like he could always catch his teammate, even if they were starting near the front and he found himself at the back. He was particularly adept at ‘avoiding dirty air’ in long DRS trains.
Hadjar suggested that this was the case ‘until last year’. Since the start of 2024, Hamilton lost the Sunday battle 21-8 against George Russell and Leclerc.
“Until last year, on Sunday, it’s all about his race pace,” Hadjar said. “He can start from the very back and end up racing George. It’s just this race pace advantage he had on his teammates. [It was the same when] he was with Valtteri as well.
“The way he was overtaking… when he was at the back, he always had this different approach, these different lines, avoiding dirty air. If there was a DRS train and everyone had a six-tenths gap, he would have a three-tenths gap with the car ahead. I think his Sunday driving is mighty.”
Asked later in the episode to name his favourite F1 moment ever, he picked out one of Hamilton’s greatest comeback drives at the 2021 Sao Paulo Grand Prix. He won the race from 10th on the grid, battling past title rival Max Verstappen en route.
“I’m going to be so controversial, and I love it!” he said. “Brazil ’21. I’m a big Lewis fan! That was a big weekend! Amazing.”
Nico Rosberg responds to Martin Brundle praising Lewis Hamilton’s clean racing
Hamilton was praised for his ‘stunning’ braking at the Canadian GP last weekend, so he’s still showing glimpses of his best form. Some feel he can’t be judged too harshly this season because of the evident limitations of Ferrari’s car.
The 40-year-old converted pole position in the Sprint race in China back in March, just his second appearance for the team. Perhaps that’s a sign that he’ll come alive if the Scuderia make a breakthrough.
Coming into the season, many expected Leclerc to be quicker over one lap and Hamilton to strike back on a Sunday. But if anything, the Monegasque has been further ahead during the races.
Martin Brundle has praised Hamilton for keeping clean on track, even now when he may be growing desperate. But former teammate Nico Rosberg, who clashed with him multiple times at Mercedes, says he’s far from an ‘angel’.
