The 2025 Formula 1 season continues this weekend with the Chinese Grand Prix, the second race of a season-opening doubleheader. While Lando Norris arrives in Shanghai atop the Drivers’ Championship standings thanks to a win in the Australian Grand Prix, rookie Isack Hadjar hopes for a much better weekend, after crashing on the formation lap in Melbourne.
The two drivers ran the media gamut on Thursday in Shanghai, including the FIA Press Conference. Hadjar opened up on his deep knowledge of the track, despite having never driven the Shanghai International Circuit.
Thanks to video games.
“I mean, I know the track really well from the sim,” said Hadjar during the FIA Press Conference. “It’s one of those tracks I’ve been playing on since I was a kid – on PS3, PS4, with a controller. So I know the track well, even though I’ve never driven here. I’m quite excited about it. Yeah, let’s see.”
Hadjar also made it clear that the schedule works in his favor, as he was able to turn the page quickly from his formation lap crash in Australia.
“I would say by Monday, I already felt quite a lot better, especially knowing that it’s a back-to-back weekend. So I get to run it back quite early, not having a month to dwell on it. So, quite quickly, I’d say,” said Hadjar when asked how quickly he was able to turn the page.
Hadjar also addressed one of the more memorable moments from Melbourne, when Anthony Hamilton consoled him after his formation lap crash.
“Yeah, he said it reminded him of Lewis parking the car at pit entry in Shanghai. It was a nice moment, sharing time with someone like Anthony as well—obviously, the dad of my idol,” said Hadjar. “So that was quite a special moment. And indeed, Lewis sent me a message later that day. Really classy guys.”
Something else that might help the rookie this week in Shanghai? The schedule. The Chinese Grand Prix is the first F1 Sprint race weekend of the 2025 season, and Hadjar outlined that the compressed format offers some familiarity.
“I would say, in terms of the approach, I’m quite used to it. The last three years, that’s what I’ve been doing – straight from FP to qualifying with only a few push laps,” said Hadjar. “So the approach, I know how to get it right. But of course, I’d rather have three free practice sessions, for sure.”
If nothing else, he has those years on the PlayStation to fall back on. And if he was able to master this circuit with a controller, doing it in an F1 car should almost seem easy.
Almost.
