Isack Hadjar recovers from last to sixth in Belgian Grand Prix with stunning 15-pass drive

Isack Hadjar delivered one of the standout performances of the 2026 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, fighting from 21st on the grid — dead last after a 30-place power-unit penalty — to finish sixth, gaining 15 positions in a single afternoon. It is the 21-year-old Red Bull driver's best result of the season by a wide margin and a statement of intent for the second half of the championship.

Starting from the back after the grid penalty for exceeding PU component limits, Hadjar adopted an aggressive strategy and maintained impressive race pace to slice through the field. By lap 15 he had already moved into the points-paying positions, and a series of clean overtakes through the middle and closing stages put him ahead of several faster cars including both Alpine and Haas entries. His pass on Fernando Alonso around the outside of Eau Rouge was one of the moves of the race.

The recovery drive was the longest of the day at Spa, beating even Lando Norris's charge from 13th to seventh. Hadjar's 8 points are crucial for Red Bull in the constructors' championship and mark a turning point after a difficult start to the season in which he had struggled to convert qualifying pace into consistent race results, often falling back rather than gaining ground.

Team principal Christian Horner praised Hadjar's tactical maturity, noting that the Frenchman managed tyre degradation effectively and picked his passing opportunities with precision — a marked improvement from earlier rounds where aggressive moves sometimes backfired or led to contact. The result also answered questions about whether the 21-year-old could handle the pressure of racing from the back of a packed midfield pack at one of the most demanding circuits on the calendar.

Sources

• [Formula 1](https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/antonelli-beats-leclerc-to-belgian-grand-prix-win-to-extend-title-lead-as-russell-retires.MAqSJSgXvRP6dLbwiRbWI)