Sat Mar 15 05:10:00 UTC 2025: ## From F4 Rivals to F1 Dreams: How a Former Racer Helped Shape Red Bull’s Newest Star
**PARIS, FRANCE** – Pierre Sancinéna, a former French F4 driver and now an F1 team manager, is celebrating a remarkable achievement: his protégé, Isack Hadjar, has ascended to Formula 1. Sancinéna, who once raced against Red Bull’s Pierre Gasly in French F4, played a pivotal role in Hadjar’s journey from a 14-year-old Winfield Racing School participant to a Formula 2 runner-up and now a driver for AlphaTauri.
Their relationship began at Circuit Paul Ricard, where Sancinéna, then an engineer and coach, first spotted Hadjar’s potential. He recalls Hadjar’s impressive determination and passion, even at such a young age. Sancinéna mentored Hadjar through French F4, providing not only racing coaching but also academic support, often helping with his high school studies. Their bond deepened during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Sancinéna was Hadjar’s sole companion at races, creating lasting memories beyond the track.
Their collaboration continued through FRegional, with Sancinéna acting as both racing coach and tutor, even assisting with mathematics and physics. A pivotal moment arrived in Monaco, where Hadjar secured pole position and victory, leading to a meeting with Red Bull’s Helmut Marko and a subsequent contract with the team.
While their partnership ended in 2022 due to Sancinéna’s work with Alpine and Hadjar’s commitment to Red Bull, their close relationship endured. Sancinéna expressed immense pride upon learning of Hadjar’s F1 promotion, emphasizing Hadjar’s unwavering dedication and adaptability – qualities honed through facing financial challenges and competing against wealthier drivers.
Sancinéna believes Hadjar’s mental fortitude and ability to quickly adapt to new cars and tracks are his greatest strengths, preparing him well for the challenges of F1. He acknowledged the steep learning curve ahead, particularly in terms of procedures, personnel, and car speed, but expressed confidence in Hadjar’s capacity to learn and excel.
The irony isn’t lost on Sancinéna: Hadjar will now compete against Gasly, his former F4 rival. This mirrors Sancinéna’s own path, which began with a promising start in F4 but ultimately led him to a successful career in engineering and team management. His story underscores that success in motorsport isn’t always a straight line, and that diverse skills and experiences can pave the way to the pinnacle of the sport, even if not as a driver.
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