Isack Hadjar handed '100% convinced' boost after stepping into 'different universe'

Racing Bulls CEO Peter Bayer has revealed that former Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko was "100 per cent convinced" about Isack Hadjar despite him leaping into the "different universe" that is F1.

Hadjar has come a long way in a short period after finishing runner-up in the F2 championship just over 13 months ago. Promoted initially into F1 with Racing Bulls, the French-Algerian driver will serve as Max Verstappen's team-mate at Red Bull this year.

It was a run-out at Imola last January, however, that the team - then run by Laurent Mekies before taking up the reins at Red Bull, and with current Racing Bulls team boss Alan Permane then serving as racing director - recognised Hadjar as a talent.

"If we go back to January, looking at the data we had, and the initial meetings we had with Isack, we certainly knew we had a young driver who was extremely focused and extremely willing to work hard for his success," said Bayer, speaking to RacingNews365 in an exclusive interview at the end of last year.

"But in that moment, you didn't know if he would be able to take to the car, to the team, to the pressure, everything.

"That's because, and a lot of the juniors have said this, that stepping up from F2 to F1 is a different universe, not just a different planet. You're making a phenomenal step in every regard.

"I remember Alan and Laurent, when Isack was running at Imola, they called me and said that there's something there. So you see the bits and pieces. You put the puzzle together.

"As for Helmut, he was 100 per cent convinced that Isack is the new talent.

"Laurent and Alan, who are quite down to earth in their assessments, sent positive signals. It was a rainy day in Imola, and he [Hadjar] kept it on track. He was solid, he was consistent. Everything pointed towards the right direction."

'Nothing to lose' after Melbourne

For Bayer, it was what then unfolded in the aftermath of the Australian Grand Prix that, in his eyes, cemented Hadjar's status as one for the future.

On his F1 debut, Hadjar suffered the worst possible start when he crashed out on the formation lap in tricky conditions. Initially, and understandably so, the then 20-year-old was distraught.

To such an extent that even Anthony Hamilton, father of seven-time F1 champion Lewis, threw a consoling arm around the young driver's shoulders as he trudged disconsolately down the Albert Park paddock, and offered words of advice.

Hadjar rebounded superbly, doing enough to go on and secure a drive with Red Bull this season.

"We went to Melbourne, and we all know what happened in Melbourne," reflected Bayer.

"In a way, it was the whole pressure of one season on this kid in one second. Why was it like that? Because it happened on the formation lap.

"If it had happened during the race, people would have said, 'Okay, rookie mistake. First race, this is what happens', and then 20 seconds later, the cameras would move on, back to the race, and nobody would think of Isack anymore.

"But because this happened on the formation lap, they had to abort the start, and the whole world kept watching Isack for five minutes.

"I think, to a certain extent, all the pressure was gone. It was such a low moment that he probably thought, 'Okay, that's it. I've got nothing more to lose. All I can do now is work hard and focus', and that's what he did."