Isack Hadjar Penalized with Grid Drop for Blocking Carlos Sainz in Canadian GP Qualifying

Isack Hadjar, a rookie with Racing Bulls, has been given a three-place grid penalty for the Canadian Grand Prix after impeding Carlos Sainz during qualifying on June 14, 2025.

The incident took place as Sainz, driving for Williams, was on a crucial flying lap in Q1. Hadjar, returning to the pit on his in-lap, slowed Sainz at the entrance to Turn 6.

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Sainz lost time, was eliminated in 17th, and voiced his anger over team radio. After qualifying, Hadjar explained that there was a breakdown in communication with his team.

He believed Sainz had abandoned the lap after initial alerts that Sainz was closing in. Hadjar said, “I got told Carlos had aborted his lap, and in fact he was still pushing,” expressing disappointment at affecting both Sainz’s and his own qualifying results.

The stewards reviewed radio traffic, in-car video, timing data, and marshalling information before announcing the penalty late Saturday. In their official report, Formula 1 stewards stated that although Hadjar tried to move off the racing line, the action came too late to prevent impeding Sainz.

During the hearing, Hadjar admitted Sainz was blocked. He relied on communication from his team rather than trusting his mirrors.

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The standard penalty for this type of violation in qualifying, according to F1 guidelines, is a loss of three grid positions, regardless of whether the fault lies with the driver or the team. The outcome of the penalty will move Hadjar from 9th to 12th on the starting grid for Sunday’s race in Montreal.

Sainz, meanwhile, will take 16th on the grid following a separate 10-place penalty given to Yuki Tsunoda for a red flag infringement during FP3. Sainz expressed his frustration after his quick lap was compromised, calling the event one that “destroyed” his qualifying session.

This penalty comes amid a weekend filled with drama for several drivers. The Canadian Grand Prix qualifying session has already seen top contenders like George Russell and Max Verstappen battling for pole, with penalties and miscommunications affecting several drivers down the order.

For Hadjar, the error serves as a tough lesson in his early Formula 1 career, especially with the added scrutiny that comes with competing at this level. Racing Bulls and Hadjar will look to regroup quickly before Sunday’s race, hoping to recover from the setback and fight for points.

Sainz and his Williams team will also be looking for opportunities to move forward, despite starting down the order after the qualifying drama. The Canadian Grand Prix grid is now set with new challenges for both drivers, and the spotlight will be on their responses when the lights go out in Montreal.

Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.