Ralf Schumacher defends Isack Hadjar after Australia misery: "Harshness of Dr Marko"

Ralf Schumacher has defended Racing Bulls driver Isack Hadjar as his emotions seemed to boil over after he crashed on the formation lap of the Australian Grand Prix. 

After being out of his first Formula 1 race before it had even begun, the Racing Bulls driver could be seen wiping away tears as he walked back to the paddock, a moment Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko branded the moment "a bit embarrassing."

Former driver and Sky Sports Germany pundit Schumacher has claimed that the pressure could also have come from Marko. He explained on the Formel1.de YouTube channel:

“I wouldn’t necessarily have cried now, but of course it touches a young man.

“The first race, a terrific performance up to that point, and then to let the team down like that is of course sad.

“And then you also get a bit scared, I think especially at Red Bull with the harshness of Dr. Marko.

"I don't know what's embarrassing about tears, but well, we know Helmut, and he certainly doesn’t mean it that way.”

Isack Hadjar, RB F1 Team, Anthony Hamilton

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

Hadjar also received support from Anthony Hamilton. The father of seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton rushed over to Hadjar after the crash to console the rookie driver. While speaking to Canal+, Hamilton revealed the reason he reached out to the driver.

“The thing is, as soon as I saw what happened to Isack, my heart fell and I just felt for him.

“It was just so sad to see, because I know how hard it is when these kids are eight years of age and they dream of becoming a Formula 1 race driver.

“There’s a lot of pressure all of the way up and you’re sitting on the grid for your first race and it doesn’t happen. That’s got to be the worst feeling in the world and I just felt for him.

“I just wanted to give him a hug. I felt for him like a father.”

Hadjar now looks ahead to the second round of the 2025 F1 season with the Chinese Grand Prix set for the end of this week in Shanghai.