Hadjar’s Singapore Qualifying Ends in Last‑Place Finish Amid Gearbox Failure
The rookie’s hopes were dashed when a gearbox issue forced him out of the session, leaving him at the back of the grid.
Isack Hadjar, the 23‑year‑old rookie who joined the Sauber‑Ferrari satellite team for the 2024 season, ended his Singapore qualifying campaign in a disappointing last‑place finish. According to Formula1.com and Formula 1, a sudden gearbox fault prevented him from completing any lap, consigning him to the back of the grid for the Marina Bay Circuit race.
The incident occurred during the first part of the qualifying session, when Hadjar was attempting to set a lap time that would secure a place in the top 15. The gearbox failure forced the driver to retire from the session before he could record a single sector time, a rare and frustrating outcome for a driver who has shown promise in the junior categories. Sauber’s technical team confirmed that the issue was unrelated to the car’s overall performance and was a one‑off mechanical glitch.
Hadjar’s last‑place qualification is part of a broader pattern of reliability concerns that have plagued the Sauber‑Ferrari partnership this season. The team has already faced a series of mechanical setbacks, including a suspension failure in Spain and a power‑unit issue in Monaco. While the car’s pace remains competitive, the recurring mechanical hiccups have raised questions about the reliability of the partnership’s engineering setup.
For Indian fans, the news comes at a time when the country’s growing interest in Formula 1 is being fueled by the success of drivers like Lando Norris and the increasing coverage on FanCode. Hadjar’s unfortunate qualifying result means he will start the Singapore Grand Prix from the very back, a position that will make it difficult to fight for points in the tightly packed city‑state circuit. Viewers in India can catch the race live on FanCode at 12:45 IST, with commentary in Hindi and English.
Source: Formula1.com