Hadjar receives formal warning after Mexico paddock incident

Isack Hadjar has received a formal warning from the stewards after an incident with a paddock guest on Friday in Mexico. The review followed a video circulating on social media that showed the driver pushing the guest aside as he walked towards the Red Bull garage.

The stewards called Hadjar to a hearing on Saturday afternoon. They ruled that his actions breached the regulations, but cited several mitigating circumstances when deciding the penalty.

Stewards cite the circumstances around the contact

In their account, Hadjar said he was running late for FP1 after stopping to take a photograph with a young fan. A paddock guest then approached him aggressively, the stewards said, while the security person walking behind Hadjar was unable to step in.

The stewards found that the guest had entered Hadjar’s personal space without consent. They said Hadjar first used his hand to hold the person at bay, then pushed him aside with an open right hand. That second action was the breach for which he was warned.

Their decision also took into account that Hadjar was trying to reach the start of FP1 through a congested area and did not have sufficient security with him. The stewards further noted the broader difficulty drivers have experienced moving through the paddock.

The ruling stops short of a more serious penalty, while making clear that the push itself was not considered acceptable. Hadjar’s account and the conditions around the encounter formed the basis for the warning.

Video prompted the stewards’ investigation

Footage shared on Friday evening showed a fan approaching Hadjar for a photo. Hadjar appeared reluctant and put out an arm to keep the person back as he continued towards the garage; the video then showed him pushing the guest with his right arm before walking on.

The incident drew attention from the stewards, who summoned Hadjar the following afternoon. F1LivePulse has more coverage of Hadjar, as well as a separate report on his Red Bull evaluation.