Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Hamad Al Fardan called me from Norwich, England, on Sunday night. The 20-year-old was gushing with excitement after scoring a double podium in the fourth round of the British Formula Three Championship.
“It was a great weekend,” he screamed. “Two podium finishes on the same day, can you believe it.”
I always did.
I think it is only the beginning. Hamad is a gifted driver, hardworking and willing to make a lot of sacrifices. As I have written before, he is the best hope to become Bahrain’s first Formula One driver.
His success in Norwich proved another point. That he can win even in adversity, like he did finishing second and third in the two races without his dashboard functioning.
“We could not do anything about it. It was too late. So we just put stickers around it and went to race,” said Hamad matter-of-factly about a most vital piece of equipment in a racing car.
I was not surprised at all. Having watched him (on video) win the New Zealand Grand Prix with his front right tear badly damaged, this was nothing in comparison.
Well done Hamad, and all the best for the fifth round in Monza on June 23 and 24.
– Vijay Mruthyunjaya
