Isack Hadjar, the Racing Bulls rookie, had a bittersweet end to the Dutch Grand Prix 2025 at Zandvoort, securing his first-ever Formula 1 podium only to accidentally break his trophy during the celebrations. The 20-year-old Frenchman, who started fourth on the grid, drove a brilliant race to finish third, marking a significant milestone in his burgeoning F1 career.
The Dutch Grand Prix, held on August 31, 2025, was an eventful race. Oscar Piastri of McLaren took the victory, extending his lead in the championship after his teammate Lando Norris was forced to retire due to a mechanical failure late in the race. Max Verstappen finished second, while Hadjar secured his podium finish after holding off pressure from Charles Leclerc and George Russell. The race also saw Lewis Hamilton crash into the barriers, marking his first retirement for Ferrari.
For Hadjar and Racing Bulls, the Dutch Grand Prix was a momentous occasion. It was the team's first podium finish since Pierre Gasly's third-place at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in 2021, when the team was known as AlphaTauri. Hadjar's performance also made him the fifth-youngest podium finisher in F1 history and the youngest French driver to achieve this feat.
However, the celebrations took an unexpected turn when Hadjar broke his trophy. During the post-race photoshoot in the pit lane with his team, Hadjar lifted the trophy before placing it back on the floor, at which point it snapped in two. The trophy, handcrafted from ceramic and decorated in the Delft Blue floral style by Dutch designers, broke into two halves, leaving Hadjar and team principal Alan Permane in laughter. Despite the mishap, the celebrations continued with champagne.
Hadjar took the incident in stride, sharing pictures of himself with the broken trophy on Instagram, captioning them: "Happy me with half a trophy! Surreal day, thank you @visacashapprb". Fellow drivers, including Lewis Hamilton, congratulated him on his achievement.
This isn't the first time a trophy has been broken during F1 celebrations. In 2023, Lando Norris famously knocked over Max Verstappen's race-winning trophy at the Hungarian Grand Prix. Verstappen's trophy was also handmade and valued at around £35,000. The company that created Verstappen's trophy, Herendi Porcelán, quickly produced a replica for him.
Isack Hadjar's journey to Formula 1 has been marked by consistent progress and determination. Born in Paris, he began karting at the age of seven and transitioned to single-seater racing in 2019. He finished third in the 2020 French F4 Championship and progressed through the Formula Regional European Championship and Formula 3, achieving multiple victories. In 2023, he graduated to FIA Formula 2, finishing runner-up in 2024. A member of the Red Bull Junior Team since 2022, Hadjar signed with Racing Bulls in 2025, making his F1 debut at the Australian Grand Prix.
Despite the broken trophy, the Dutch Grand Prix 2025 will remain a memorable event for Isack Hadjar, marking his first podium and highlighting his potential as a rising star in Formula 1.
