Isack Hadjar heads into the final straight of his debut Formula One campaign having undergone a remarkable transformation in fortunes. Tears and frustration have made way for points and podiums.
The season's opener in Australia was a disaster for Racing Bulls' new driver. After qualifying in 11th place, the 20-year-old French-Algerian's race was over before it had even begun when he spun into the barriers and crashed out during the formation lap.
It was the cruellest of starts for the rookie who broke down in tears on returning to the garage, a moment of fragility in a brutal sport where such raw shows of emotion can be perceived as a sign of weakness.
But what followed was telling. He regrouped, recalibrated and has gone on to enjoy a sensational season that has included becoming the first Arab driver to secure a top-three spot and the fifth-youngest podium finisher in F1 history.
Born in Paris to Algerian parents, Hadjar is the first driver of Arab heritage to race in F1 but insists it was “never my goal” to be any kind of trailblazer.
“I never thought about it,” Hadjar, who turned 21 last month, told The National. “But obviously now going into Formula One and doing well and actually realising that there’s a huge community behind me means a lot, especially at such a young age for me.
“I don’t take that as a responsibility. I just feel a lot more support and hope inspiring young kids is just great.
“I don’t try to connect especially. I feel like I’m in constant connection because my parents are Algerian. There is constant Arabic speaking around. Most of my friends are from there.
“So, I mean, it is just I do not feel like the need to connect because I am constantly surrounded by them. I am very lucky.”
Hadjar began racing as a child, rising through karting, Formula Three and Formula Two, where he earned his place in the esteemed Red Bull academy. Within that unforgiving environment, he learnt discipline and the art of control.
In 2024, he came agonisingly close to winning the F2 Championship, losing out to Gabriel Bortoleto after stalling at the start of the season finale in Abu Dhabi, which would gift the title to his Brazilian rival.
At the time, Hadjar called it “the worst moment of my life”, but it was a lesson that hardened him ahead of the step up to F1.
And that step up has proven less daunting than expected, even after that awful start in Melbourne, with Hadjar accumulating an impressive 39 points so far – leaving him ninth in the drivers' championship with six races to go.
What has he found most difficult? “I would say mainly the engineering side,” he explains. “It is just a lot more complicated than Formula Two. It is a much more complex system to work around. I would say that driving is the easy part.
“If anything, it is easier because you get paid to drive. You are not surviving. If anything, it is easier than lower categories.”
It is the response of someone who sees discipline as the key component of racing. His childhood hero was Lewis Hamilton, admired for his elegance and composure, but his temperament aligns more closely with Max Verstappen’s – precise, relentless, impervious to perception. He admires one, yet races like the other.
“There’s been frustrating moments nearly every weekend,” he says of his campaign so far. “But there’s moments like Australia where I’m not taking part in my first race. It was definitely a tough one. There was Monaco, where I had my best result for a while [sixth place], which is kind of my home race as well. Many good moments, many good drives. So yeah, there’s been more ups than downs this year. I’m glad.”
It was at the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort in August that everything changed for Hadjar. After producing an outstanding lap to qualify P4, he went on to cap a stellar performance in the race to claim a historic third place behind winner Oscar Piastri and Verstappen.
Days after the race, Hadjar was asked about what emotions he felt on the podium. “There was no word, I just went through in my mind all the struggles I’ve been facing in my career to get to F1,” he said. “That’s all I thought about, really, all the struggles and all the pain. I’m just happy I never gave up.”
Hadjar is the season’s standout rookie for a reason, extracting results once thought beyond the reach of the car he occupies. “Because I had a podium in a midfield car,” he says when asked what separates him from the rest. “So, I think this stands out a bit.”
When pressed on how he managed what others could not, he adds: “I have the belief that obviously I’m a good driver and that’s it. But it’s not up to me to judge and say I’m better than this or that. It’s not what I’m focused on.”
A popular figure on the grid, Hadjar is also a familiar presence on the Racing Bulls’ light-hearted reels and social videos, playing along with humour and charm.
Yet in person, he is serious, reflective, precise. He speaks French but understands some Arabic, enough to recognise the voices that call to him from grandstands in Doha, Jeddah and, soon enough, Abu Dhabi.
“I don’t feel much pressure from the outside,” says Hadjar. “Luckily, I just feel pressure that I’m putting on myself to deliver, if anything.
“I’m putting more pressure on myself than people do on me. That’s how I always operated in my career. And that’s what I stand by.”
The trials and tribulations of an exciting first season at the highest level have tempered him. When asked if he ever doubted his path, though, he shakes his head. “Oh, never. This was always the plan. Yeah, since I can remember, I knew I wanted to drive. Again, very lucky.”
As speculation grows about a future seat with the main team at Red Bull, he replied nonchalantly: “Actually, I’m in a very good position because I’m not in a position where I’m threatened, you know?
“I mean, a really good seat, I’m going to be on the F1 grid next year. So, you know, there’s seven races left, and I just want to enjoy them, do the maximum I can. Keep showing people what I’m worth. That’s the only thing I can do, really, and the decision is not up to me.”
He pauses, then adds: “I think I’ve been through my favourites … and I’ve had very good results. But left on the calendar … I’m really excited for Qatar.”
The penultimate race in Doha awaits ahead of the season-ending Abu Dhabi GP at Yas Marina Circuit on December 7, which will mark the end of a breakthrough campaign for Hadjar.
One that started with tears but is set to end in a sea of praise. He came to race, not to inspire, yet in mastering both he’s become one of F1’s most exciting new prospects.
First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus
Gulf Under 19s final
Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
Changing visa rules
For decades the UAE has granted two and three year visas to foreign workers, tied to their current employer. Now that's changing.
Last year, the UAE cabinet also approved providing 10-year visas to foreigners with investments in the UAE of at least Dh10 million, if non-real estate assets account for at least 60 per cent of the total. Investors can bring their spouses and children into the country.
It also approved five-year residency to owners of UAE real estate worth at least 5 million dirhams.
The government also said that leading academics, medical doctors, scientists, engineers and star students would be eligible for similar long-term visas, without the need for financial investments in the country.
The first batch - 20 finalists for the Mohammed bin Rashid Medal for Scientific Distinction.- were awarded in January and more are expected to follow.
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
How to play the stock market recovery in 2021?
If you are looking to build your long-term wealth in 2021 and beyond, the stock market is still the best place to do it as equities powered on despite the pandemic.
Investing in individual stocks is not for everyone and most private investors should stick to mutual funds and ETFs, but there are some thrilling opportunities for those who understand the risks.
Peter Garnry, head of equity strategy at Saxo Bank, says the 20 best-performing US and European stocks have delivered an average return year-to-date of 148 per cent, measured in local currency terms.
Online marketplace Etsy was the best performer with a return of 330.6 per cent, followed by communications software company Sinch (315.4 per cent), online supermarket HelloFresh (232.8 per cent) and fuel cells specialist NEL (191.7 per cent).
Mr Garnry says digital companies benefited from the lockdown, while green energy firms flew as efforts to combat climate change were ramped up, helped in part by the European Union’s green deal.
Electric car company Tesla would be on the list if it had been part of the S&P 500 Index, but it only joined on December 21. “Tesla has become one of the most valuable companies in the world this year as demand for electric vehicles has grown dramatically,” Mr Garnry says.
By contrast, the 20 worst-performing European stocks fell 54 per cent on average, with European banks hit by the economic fallout from the pandemic, while cruise liners and airline stocks suffered due to travel restrictions.
As demand for energy fell, the oil and gas industry had a tough year, too.
Mr Garnry says the biggest story this year was the “absolute crunch” in so-called value stocks, companies that trade at low valuations compared to their earnings and growth potential.
He says they are “heavily tilted towards financials, miners, energy, utilities and industrials, which have all been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic”. “The last year saw these cheap stocks become cheaper and expensive stocks have become more expensive.”
This has triggered excited talk about the “great value rotation” but Mr Garnry remains sceptical. “We need to see a breakout of interest rates combined with higher inflation before we join the crowd.”
Always remember that past performance is not a guarantee of future returns. Last year’s winners often turn out to be this year’s losers, and vice-versa.
RESULTS
Argentina 4 Haiti 0
Peru 2 Scotland 0
Panama 0 Northern Ireland 0
Day 2, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Dinesh Chandimal has inherited a challenging job, after being made Sri Lanka’s Test captain. He responded in perfect fashion, with an easy-natured century against Pakistan. He brought up three figures with a majestic cover drive, which he just stood and admired.
Stat of the day – 33 It took 33 balls for Dilruwan Perera to get off the mark. His time on zero was eventful enough. The Sri Lankan No 7 was given out LBW twice, but managed to have both decisions overturned on review. The TV replays showed both times that he had inside edged the ball onto his pad.
The verdict In the two previous times these two sides have met in Abu Dhabi, the Tests have been drawn. The docile nature of proceedings so far makes that the likely outcome again this time, but both sides will be harbouring thoughts that they can force their way into a winning position.
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Brief scoreline:
Manchester United 2
Rashford 28', Martial 72'
Watford 1
Doucoure 90'
Kill%20
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