Hadjar suffers grid penalty for impeding Sainz during F1 Canadian GP qualifying

Isack Hadjar has received a three-place grid penalty for the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix after a “complete miscommunication” with his Racing Bulls team led to the rookie impeding Carlos Sainz in qualifying. 

With the Williams driver on a hot lap looking to make it through to Q2, Sainz was blocked by Hadjar approaching Turn 6 and fumed over the radio after being eliminated in 17th as a result.

Hadjar pleaded his innocence at the time, but has been dropped three places for Sunday’s race following a summons to the steward’s room meaning he will now start the grand prix in 12th.

“I never impede anyone, not even in practice,” the Frenchman said after qualifying, but before his grid drop was announced.

“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.”

The stewarding document confirmed Hadjar’s explanation, laying out why the decision was taken to drop him out of the top 10 in Montreal.

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images

“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,” it read.

“Car 6 was on an in-lap and was caught by Car 55, on a push lap, at the entry to turn 6. Although Car 6 attempted to move off the racing line to leave space for Car 55, the move was too late. The driver of Car 6 agreed that Car 55 was impeded.

“He explained that he had earlier been told by his team that Car 55 was approaching on a push lap but the team then told him that Car 55 had abandoned the lap. He said that although he saw Car 55 in his mirrors, he relied upon what he had been told by his team and when he realised the information was wrong he did his best to move out of the way.

“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.”

Sainz, meanwhile, will start 16th having moved up a place following Yuki Tsunoda’s own 10-place grid penalty for a red flag infringement during FP3.