Isack Hadjar hit with grid penalty for Canadian Grand Prix, drops to P12
Isack Hadjar Handed Grid Penalty for Impeding Carlos Sainz in Canadian GP Qualifying
The Canadian Grand Prix weekend has seen its share of controversies, with Isack Hadjar slapped with a three-place grid penalty for impeding Carlos Sainz during qualifying. The decision, which moves Hadjar from ninth to 12th on the starting grid, has added fuel to an already tense weekend.
The Incident: Sainz’s Frustration
The incident occurred during Q1 on Saturday, where Hadjar’s positioning disrupted Williams driver Carlos Sainz's flying lap. The Spaniard was visibly frustrated after being eliminated in Q1, calling the situation a major blow to his weekend.
"I don't care if I was fast," an exasperated Sainz vented to reporters. "If in Q1 you arrive and there's a guy in the middle of the road that completely blows your qualifying away, that means your weekend is destroyed. I'm in P17 when I should be fighting for Q3 and the top eight today, so I'm extremely disappointed."
Stewards’ Investigation and Ruling
The race stewards investigated the incident and released a statement detailing their findings. According to the ruling, Hadjar, piloting Car 6, was on an in-lap as Sainz, in Car 55, approached on a hot lap towards the Turn 6 entry. Despite efforts by Hadjar to move off the racing line, the move came too late, leading to the impeding.
The stewards elaborated, "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 realized the information was wrong, he did his best to move out of the way."
The standard penalty for such an infringement during qualifying is a three-spot grid drop, regardless of whether the driver or the team shoulders the blame.
Hadjar Defends His Actions
Following the ruling, Hadjar defended his actions, emphasizing that the situation stemmed from a miscommunication with his team.
"I never impede anyone, not even in practice," Hadjar stated after the session. "I got told Carlos had aborted his lap, and in fact, he was still pushing. So, complete miscommunication from what I got told. It's a shame—it ruins his qualifying and probably a bit mine."
Grid Penalties Shake Up the Starting Order
Hadjar wasn’t the only driver facing penalties this weekend. Yuki Tsunoda, another contender on the grid, was handed a 10-place grid penalty for overtaking Oscar Piastri under red flag conditions during Friday’s second practice session. Tsunoda's penalty will have a substantial impact on his starting position, compounding his difficulties in Montreal.
Anticipation Builds for Sunday’s Race
With penalties reshuffling the starting grid, anticipation is high for Sunday’s race, as drivers look to recover and fight for crucial championship points.
Up Next
