The FIA has handed Isack Hadjar a formal warning following his altercation with a fan in the paddock before the Mexican Grand Prix FP1 on Friday. Hadjar had pushed a male fan away with his hand who was attempting to take a photograph with him. The stewards noted that the fan approached the driver in an ‘aggressive manner’.
The report read: “The driver initially resisted the move by placing his hand on the waist of the guest, holding him at bay, then the driver pushed him aside with his open right hand. This latter action by the driver is regarded as a breach of the regulations.”
Following the incident, Hadjar was summoned by the stewards for an alleged breach of Article 12.2.1.l of the FIA International Sporting Code, which deals with driver misconduct. Following an investigation, the stewards noted that Hadjar’s action of pushing the fan away with his right hand was ‘a breach of the regulations’.
But the stewards also considered mitigating circumstances, including the fact that Hadjar was reacting to an ‘uninvited and rather aggressive’ approach by the fan and that his personal space was being invaded without consent.
They also noted that the Frenchman was trying to make his way through a ‘congested area’ in time for the start of FP1 and that he also did not have ‘sufficient security present’ around him to deal with the situation.
All of these factors meant that Hadjar was only given a warning, rather than a more serious penalty, for breaching FIA regulations by pushing the fan away.
Red Bull Man Defends Isack Hadjar Following Altercation With Fan at Mexican GP
Former Red Bull mechanic and now ambassador Calum Nicholas has defended Hadjar amid his interaction with a fan in the Mexican GP paddock on Friday. Nicholas has said that even the fact that Hadjar was summoned to the stewards for the incident was ‘odd’.
“A driver being summoned to the stewards because a fan thought it was ok to touch them without their consent seems… odd. You might have paid a lot of money to be there, but this isn’t a petting zoo,” Nicholas wrote on X on Saturday.
Nicholas also added to his point, saying that any person’s ‘right to personal space shouldn’t be up for debate’. He also wrote that some fans do not appreciate the level of access they get to F1 drivers, which is considerably more than other athletes.
Isack Hadjar Chastises Red Bull RB22 During Mexican GP FP3
Hadjar didn’t have the best of times on track either on Saturday, as the Red Bull driver continued struggling with the RB22 during the Mexican GP FP3. During the session, Hadjar called his car the ‘worst’ he has driven.
“Oh my god, this is the worst car I have driven this weekend. Terrible,” Hadjar said over the team radio.
Hadjar finished the final practice session in P8, over half a second behind session leader Lando Norris. Prior to this, the 22-year-old also had a tough time in practice on Friday, struggling with the power unit and setup of his car throughout both sessions. He finished 11th in FP1 and sixth in FP2.
More F1 Reading
- ‘Shouldn’t Be Picking a Fight With Me’: Max Verstappen Doubles Down on Liam Lawson’s Seat Threat
- Audi Slapped With $5,600 Fine for ‘Cover Up’ Hours After Another Infringement That Cost Them $8,400
- ‘Little More Worried About My Race Than Kimi’s’: Marco Antonelli on Brink of Winning His Own Title Before Son
- ‘Scare a Few People Off’: Lando Norris Shares His Cheeky Pick for Halloween Costume
Comments
More in News
‘Shouldn’t Be Picking a Fight With Me’: Max Verstappen Doubles Down on Liam Lawson’s Seat Threat
Audi Slapped With $5,600 Fine for ‘Cover Up’ Hours After Another Infringement That Cost Them $8,400
‘Little More Worried About My Race Than Kimi’s’: Marco Antonelli on Brink of Winning His Own Title Before Son
‘Scare a Few People Off’: Lando Norris Shares His Cheeky Pick for Halloween Costume
