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Anthony Hamilton explained why he consoled Isack Hadjar following the Racing Bulls driver’s pre-race crash in yesterday’s Australian Grand Prix.
The father of seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton approached the tearful 20-year-old after he crashed during the formation lap.
“I was just trying to give him some encouragement,” Hamilton told Viaplay after the race. “I basically said ‘hold your head up high, man, because you’ve worked since you were eight years of age to get to this position’.
“This is one of the most devastating things, obviously, that can happen to a driver. But there’s more to come and you’ve already shown that you deserve to be here on the grid. So just hold your head up high, hold your shoulders back, and walk tall.”
Hamilton, who played a vital role in developing his son’s racing talent, said he felt the need to comfort the distraught driver.
“It was tough for him,” he said. “But eventually, he lifted his head and he started to walk tall. And he’ll remember that, I hope.
“But it’s one of those moments in time when all parents will, I’m sure, have a feeling for him. He needed a hug and I just felt I needed to do it.”
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Hamilton said Hadjar’s parents “came over and said thank you” afterwards, “which was phenomenal.”
“I just thought now’s a good time to help someone else,” he added.
However Red Bull motorsport consultant Helmut Marko was unimpressed with what he saw after his junior driver’s retirement.
“Isack Hadjar did a little bit of crying after his crash,” he told ORF (Oesterreichischer Rundfunk). “That was a bit embarrassing.”
Racing Bulls team principal Laurent Mekies said Hadjar “will learn from this and turn his frustration into good energy for the next race.
“We will be here to support him over the next few days before Shanghai and not let this cloud all the positives we can take from this weekend.”
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