Formula 2 driver Isack Hadjar’s reflexes have received widespread praise after he avoided disaster in a heart-stopping moment.
With the Formula 1 world descending on Monaco, carnage came close to unfolding on the famous street circuit during F2 qualifying.
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Rodin Motorsport driver Tiomo Miyata suffered a power unit issue as he entered the tunnel and slowed to a crawl as he rolled around on the inside line.
The 19-year-old Hadjar entered the tunnel at full speed and in the blink of an eye came dangerously close to Miyata as he came around the blind corner.
Hadjar flicked the wheel to the left as his Campos Racing car narrowly avoided slamming into Miyata.
The moment of magic from the French prodigy also saw him keep his car off the left hand wall as he continued on down the road.
As replays of Miyata going slowly through the tunnel began to roll, the F2 commentators couldn’t believe what had unfolded in front of their eyes.
“He’s very slowly there in the tunnel, whether he’s having some sort of reliability issue and that’s a scary place to be…” one commentator began to say before his fellow announcer cut him off as Hadjar entered the frame
“Oh my goodness me. We knew it wasn’t an accident because we would have cut to it in the tunnel,” the second commentator said.
“But how … that’s about as dangerous as it gets around Monaco.
“We’re on board with Isack Hadjar, you’ve got the LED boards … oh my word that was nearly horrible. Blood runs cold as a driver when you see that.”
Footage of the terrifying near miss quickly went viral on social media as fans were left in disbelief over Hadjar’s ability to avoid disaster.
The official F2 account wrote: “Lightning-quick reactions from Isack Hadjar. ️An unbelievable show of reflex and skill in the Monaco tunnel.”
F1 journalist Vincenzo Landino wrote: “The reaction time of racing drivers is otherworldly.”
One user wrote: “Honestly, watching that live was intense.”
F1 troll wrote: “Incredible reaction from Hadjar. This could have been horrific.”
A second added: “One of the best reactionary pieces of driving I’ve seen at a horribly dangerous corner.”
A third wrote: “This is nuts man, most dangerous sport on earth and it’s not even close.”
The Formula 2 sprint race around Monaco will take place on Saturday night with lights out at 10.10pm (AEST).
