Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar Crashes Heavily to Halt United States GP Qualifying
The opening stage of qualifying for the 2025 United States Grand Prix came to a dramatic halt on Saturday after Red Bull junior driver Isack Hadjar suffered a heavy crash early in Q1. The French rookie, who currently competes for Racing Bulls, Red Bull’s sister team, lost control of his car at Turn 6, slamming into the barriers with significant force.
The session had barely begun when the red flag was waved, signalling a complete stop to the proceedings. Hadjar’s car sustained serious damage in the impact, prompting immediate concern from the commentary box. Sky F1’s Martin Brundle and David Croft reacted instantly to the intensity of the crash, highlighting the magnitude of the impact.
“That means he’s hit the wall at over 25g – that’s 25 times the force of gravity,” Brundle explained. Croft added, “That’s quite a hefty one.” The pair, both seasoned analysts and former racers, noted that Hadjar appeared to have been caught out by a sudden loss of rear grip while carrying substantial speed through the sweeping left-hander.
Brundle continued, “He’ll feel that one for sure, but I really feel for him. He was on the right part of the track, but it just broke loose. There was nothing he could have done. He was pushing hard, and it simply got away from him.”
The 21-year-old Frenchman could be seen in his cockpit striking the steering wheel in frustration as he came to a stop, a clear sign of disappointment after what had been a promising weekend up to that point. Marshals were quick to respond, and the red flag came out almost immediately to allow the damaged car to be recovered safely.
Hadjar managed to climb out of the car unaided, walking away without injury, though visibly dejected. His return to the Racing Bulls garage marked an early end to his qualifying hopes, leaving his mechanics with significant work ahead of the sprint and main race sessions.
Because the incident occurred so early in Q1, no driver had yet completed a timed lap. This meant that several competitors who had already used up a fresh set of tyres were left at a disadvantage when the session was paused. Teams had to reassess their tyre strategies as qualifying was set to resume later under the Texas heat.
After a 20-minute delay, the FIA confirmed that the session would restart at 4:14 p.m. local time (CDT) once the track had been cleared and barrier repairs completed. The delay also provided a brief opportunity for teams to adjust setups and cooling systems as they prepared to send their drivers back out for another attempt.
The crash serves as a reminder of the fine margins in Formula 1, especially for young drivers like Hadjar eager to prove their worth at the highest level. Despite the setback, his aggressive approach and commitment to pushing the limits continue to earn him respect within the paddock. The Racing Bulls team will now face the challenge of repairing his car in time for the next session, as the battle for positions at the Circuit of the Americas continues to intensify.
