Isack Hadjar finished the Singapore Grand Prix qualifying session in last place after a gearbox failure prevented him from setting a timed lap, according to official Formula 1 reports.
The French Red Bull driver expressed his frustration over the poor reliability of his car at this circuit, where he had already encountered problems during previous sessions, including a battery failure in Malaysia and a retirement in the Singapore Sprint.
During qualifying, Hadjar was initially able to run slowly before the gearbox failed at turn 8, forcing him to return to the garage without recording a time. He stated: “The car was completely damaged. I knew it was over, but I didn’t want to stop on the track.”
Despite his frustration, he affirmed his determination to fight in the race, hoping to score points despite his unfavorable starting position.
His teammate Max Verstappen, by contrast, secured the 50th pole position of his career, demonstrating Red Bull’s competitiveness on this track.
Team principal Laurent Mekies apologized to Hadjar, acknowledging that reliability issues had spoiled his weekend, especially in a race where grid position is crucial due to overtaking difficulties.