Summary
- Hadjar expects a five-place grid penalty at Sepang for a power unit component change.
- The Frenchman believes Red Bull could be less competitive than it was in Azerbaijan.
- After finishing third on his comeback in Baku, Hadjar faces another recovery challenge.
Isack Hadjar has revealed that he expects to lose five positions on the starting grid for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. The Red Bull driver also lowered expectations for Formula 1’s return to Sepang, warning that the team’s double podium in Azerbaijan does not guarantee another front-running performance.
Speaking at Sepang on Thursday, Hadjar explained that the anticipated penalty will complicate his second weekend back after a wrist injury forced him to miss three races.
“It is a bit difficult for me as I should be taking a five-place penalty,” Hadjar said.
The expected sanction concerns Red Bull’s power unit component allocation. The specific component triggering the five-place drop had not been identified in the information available on Thursday morning.
Component usage during Liam Lawson’s appearances as Hadjar’s replacement counts towards the same allocation. Changing the driver does not reset the permitted number of parts, meaning Hadjar inherits the consequences of components used while he was recovering.
The penalty would be applied to his qualifying result. His final starting position will depend on the complete set of sanctions imposed across the field.
Hadjar expects a tougher test for Red Bull
Hadjar finished third in Azerbaijan, immediately behind Max Verstappen, as Red Bull secured a double podium. However, he believes Baku’s characteristics helped the team and that Sepang will offer a clearer assessment of its upgrade package.
A competitive result on a street circuit does not settle how the revised car will perform through Sepang’s longer, flowing corners.
“I would expect us to be less competitive on this track, but if we can still fight for a podium this weekend, that would be good,” Hadjar said.
For Hadjar, recovering positions will ultimately depend on sustained race pace. The grid drop creates an additional obstacle, but his assessment is straightforward: Red Bull must have enough performance to move forward.
Sepang allows a different approach after his injury
Hadjar approached his Baku comeback progressively, conscious that a mistake between the barriers could undermine his return. Sepang offers more space to explore the car’s limits, allowing him to attack earlier in practice.
“It’s an open circuit, there aren’t really any walls, so you can push to the limit much earlier,” he explained.
Tyre management will also demand a different approach. Hadjar expects a race involving two or three stops and intends to prioritise longer runs during practice to understand degradation. That is his pre-weekend expectation, rather than a confirmed strategy.
Readers can explore the compounds available in GRANDE PRÊMIO’s explanation of why Pirelli’s C2, C3 and C4 matter at Sepang.
Hadjar also has an experienced reference alongside him: Verstappen won the last F1 race at Sepang in 2017. The Frenchman believes his team-mate’s knowledge can help with details that simulator preparation cannot fully reproduce.
Formula 1 returns this weekend, from 2–4 October, to Malaysia, which hosts the Bahrain Grand Prix. GRANDE PRÊMIO will cover all the action at Sepang.
F1 today: FAQ
What time does F1 practice start at Sepang?
Friday practice begins on 2 October. FP1 starts at 05:30 BST in the UK, 10:00 IST in India and 14:30 AEST in Sydney and Melbourne. In New York and Toronto, it starts at 00:30 EDT; in Los Angeles and Vancouver, at 21:30 PDT on Thursday. FP2 begins three and a half hours later.
Is Esteban Ocon leaving Haas and retiring from F1?
Ocon will leave Haas at the end of 2026, but says he intends to remain in Formula 1. He has not announced retirement and would consider a reserve role while seeking another race seat.
What happened to Oscar Piastri at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix?
Piastri was running near the front in Baku before a mistake during a Safety Car restart dropped him out of podium contention. He finished 14th, adding to a difficult 2026 season for the McLaren driver.
Why does Isack Hadjar expect a grid penalty at Sepang?
His Red Bull has exceeded its permitted power unit component allocation. Hadjar expects a five-place drop, although the specific replacement component had not been identified on Thursday morning.
