Isack Hadjar has been given a three-place grid penalty for the Canadian Grand Prix after impeding Carlos Sainz during qualifying due to a significant miscommunication with his Racing Bulls team. The incident occurred at the Montreal circuit when Hadjar blocked Sainz’s flying lap near Turn 6, which prevented the Williams driver from advancing to Q2.
Sainz, who was eliminated in 17th place, expressed his frustration openly over team radio after the session. Hadjar initially denied any wrongdoing but was summoned to the stewards and later confirmed to have impeded Sainz. Consequently, he will start Sunday’s race in 12th position instead of his original qualifying spot.
Details of the incident and steward investigation
The stewards conducted a thorough review by gathering evidence from drivers, team representatives, and various data sources including video footage, timing screens, and radio communications. The investigation revealed that Hadjar, who was on an in-lap, was caught by Sainz, who was on a flying lap, at the entry to Turn 6. Although Hadjar attempted to move away from the racing line to allow Sainz to pass, the effort came too late to avoid impeding.
Hadjar explained that his team had first informed him that Sainz was aborting his lap, but later it was clarified incorrectly that the lap was ongoing. He trusted the information from his team and only tried to clear the way upon realizing the mistake.
I got told Carlos had aborted his lap, and in fact he was still pushing. So, complete miscommunication from what I got told, and it’s a shame, it ruins his qualifying. And probably a bit mine.
—Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls driver
The Stewards heard from the driver of Car 6 (Isack Hadjar), the driver of Car 55 (Carlos Sainz), team representatives and reviewed positioning/marshalling system data, video, timing, team radio and in-car video evidence,
the steward’s report stated.
The standard penalty for this infringement during Qualifying in the Penalty Guidelines is a 3 grid position penalty regardless of whether the incident was the fault of the driver or the team.
Impact on starting positions and driver reactions
Hadjar’s penalty moves him down three places on the starting grid, pushing him out of the top 10 after qualifying in a higher position. Sainz benefits slightly from this adjustment and will start 16th following an additional position gain caused by Yuki Tsunoda’s 10-place penalty for a red flag violation during FP3.
Hadjar maintained his innocence immediately after qualifying, stating,
I never impede anyone, not even in practice.
Despite this, the evidence supported the decision to impose the penalty.
What this means for the Canadian Grand Prix
The grid adjustment caused by Hadjar’s penalty adds drama to Sunday’s Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, where track position is crucial. For the rookie driver, this setback emphasizes the importance of clear communication with the team during critical moments. For Sainz and Williams, regaining ground from the back half of the grid will be a significant challenge.
With the stewards applying consistent enforcement of rules regarding blocking, the decision underscores the strict standards drivers face in qualifying sessions. Fans and teams will be watching closely to see how the drivers respond to these setbacks on race day.
