At the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix on May 25, Lewis Hamilton once again demonstrated his sportsmanship and leadership by acknowledging F1 rookie Isack Hadjar with a thumbs-up gesture during the cooldown lap. The moment, captured in a viral video circulating on X (formerly Twitter), occurred in the tunnel section of the track after the checkered flag and quickly drew praise from fans and pundits alike.
Hamilton, who started seventh due to a grid penalty for impeding Max Verstappen in qualifying, managed a strong recovery to finish fifth. He capitalized on strategic pit stops under Monaco’s newly introduced two-stop regulation to leapfrog both Hadjar and Fernando Alonso. Despite finishing nearly a full lap ahead of Hadjar, Hamilton’s gesture was seen as a sign of deep respect for the 20-year-old French driver, who was making his first appearance at the prestigious street circuit.
Hadjar, representing the Visa Cash App RB team and part of the Red Bull junior program, delivered a mature and composed performance. His weekend wasn’t without challenges—he endured two crashes during Free Practice 2—but bounced back with resilience to secure a P6 finish. It marked a milestone result for the young driver and further solidified his growing reputation on the grid.
This isn’t the first time Hamilton has extended support to Hadjar. Earlier in the season, after Hadjar’s high-speed crash during the Australian Grand Prix, Hamilton publicly commended his courage and potential. Sunday’s gesture in Monaco continued that theme of mentorship, reflecting the seven-time world champion’s commitment to encouraging emerging talent.
Fans on social media celebrated the exchange, calling it “a passing of the torch” moment and a reminder of the mutual respect that still underpins the hyper-competitive world of Formula 1.