Isack Hadjar, pushing the boundaries of F1 The mission for HUGO Eyewear and Visa Cash App Racing Bulls Formula One Team
How can we understand F1core? Will there ever be a sartorial style that can express the aesthetics of this sport outside the circuit? Whatever form this movement takes over the next few years, one thing is certain: we cannot imagine a Formula 1 driver without sunglasses. It is a legacy of the 1970s that we can still easily find today in the paddock thanks to the impact of HUGO Eyewear.
The partnership with the Visa Cash App Racing Bulls Formula One Team has added a touch of coolness to the paddock. This is thanks to lines and collections characterised by a refined style that is never boring, innovation that goes hand in hand with the character of colours and shapes that fit perfectly into what is now one of the most elegant contexts in the world of sport.
The meeting between HUGO Eyewear and VCARB also represents a convergence of shared visions, namely the idea of constantly pushing boundaries. This was confirmed by Isack Hadjar, the team's official driver, whom we interviewed on the eve of the Brazilian Grand Prix.
How does it feel to walk through the paddock wearing Hugo? And what represents this partnership for you?
"I feel confident walking through the paddock wearing HUGO as it feels empowering. I always have new HUGO outfits for each race weekend, which is really cool, and that helps represent my own style, as well as differentiate the outfits by the country we’re racing in. The partnership represents a shared mindset: it allows us to push boundaries, which aligns perfectly with how I’ve always faced my racing career and my current journey in F1."
How would you describe your style?
"I like having a smart-casual style. I’ve always been quite related and I’ve never had too much of an extravagant style, because I don’t think it suits me and my education based on where I come from."
What kind of eyewear do you prefer? Are you more of a classic guy, or are you looking for something innovative?
"The sunglasses really complete my look and add that final touch to my style. I’m very picky in choosing sunglasses as I have a small head shape, so I want to make sure the type of sunglasses I choose adapts well with it! I feel like HUGO Eyewear offers a wide range of different models, which is great and helps me with that."
Do you wear sunglasses on the grid before a race or do they interfere with your pre-race ritual?
"As a racing driver, I have always had my own rituals and routines since a young age during go-karting, and those haven’t changed too much. I really like sunglasses but I’m not used to wearing them on the grid."
Is fashion a way for you to express your personality?
“Yes, I think fashion is definitely a way to express my personality. I also feel like it’s a really nice way to show where I come from; it helps me feel attached to my roots and shows my background. I’m a very simple person and I like to stay humble; therefore, I think it’s important to know how to look good when it matters, but at the same time I like to keep my fashion low key.”
Do you think that fashion has taken over F1?
"I think with Lewis Hamilton, the effect of fashion in F1 has definitely grown a lot. I really still feel like this is a sport where racing is obviously the main part, it’s the core. But fashion is part of the sport and it is now so well integrated, which is great and important. I think it’s really cool to see all the F1 drivers coming to the track and showing up in different outfits.”
How would you describe your teammate Liam Lawson in one word?
"Kiwi."
You claimed your first ever podium in Zandvoort last August, finishing third. Take us back to that moment and describe how you felt.
"It was probably the best day of the year so far, a day that I’d obviously like to repeat. I had a lot of emotions in the last few laps before crossing the finish line as I knew I had it in control, and I felt like I didn’t want those laps to finish. When I crossed the finish line I just thought how happy my entourage and my people were feeling. It just felt so good."
One final curiosity: when you’re racing and you have to break before a turn, do you think in meters or in seconds? Tell us a bit more about that process.
"I don’t think in time or distance, it’s more a feeling I have of what the car is telling me to do. It’s something I’ve felt since I was a six year old kid go-karting. In the end you use your instinct, as you know your car perfectly and its ability to brake, so I’d say it’s more a feeling when you see the corner coming."
