Hadjar Hit with Grid Drop for Blocking Sainz in Q1

Isack Hadjar receives a three-place grid penalty in Canada after blocking Carlos Sainz during Q1 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

The bad news was hardly unexpected given how clear the obstruction was in Q1: Racing Bulls driver Isack Hadjar has received a three-place grid penalty for the Canadian Grand Prix.

The stewards found him guilty of impeding his Williams rival, Carlos Sainz, during qualifying. The latter was, in fact, furious with the Frenchman (read here).

Hadjar was on a cooldown lap at the end of Q1 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve when Sainz, on a push lap, closed in on the rookie in the first sector.

Sainz caught up to the rear of Hadjar’s car under braking at the Turn 6/7 chicane, compromising his line and his lap, relegating him to a modest 17th place.

After reviewing footage, data, and speaking with both drivers, the stewards unsurprisingly decided to penalize Hadjar, who will now drop three places on the grid for Sunday’s race in Montreal. He will start 12th.

Yuki Tsunoda was also handed a 10-place grid penalty earlier in the day for failing to respect a red flag in Free Practice 3.

The stewards also issued a reprimand to Esteban Ocon for failing to comply with the race director’s instruction requiring drivers on slow laps to keep right between Turns 12 and 13 to allow faster cars to pass. Charles Leclerc had to leave the racing line to overtake Ocon on the right, at one of the fastest points on the track. The stewards imposed the sanction, acknowledging that Leclerc had not been impeded.