FIA announce disqualification of Red Bull star over… follow the link in the comment section for details
The FIA has issued an official disqualification ruling against Isack Hadjar, the young Red Bull Racing driver, following qualifying at the Miami Grand Prix. The decision adds yet another dramatic twist to what has already been an action-packed race weekend at the Miami International Autodrome.
The Miami race weekend has delivered continuous excitement, largely due to the sprint format, which tends to compress competitive action into a shorter timeframe. From intense on-track battles to off-track rulings, each day has brought fresh developments. Saturday’s sprint race had already seen controversy, including a disqualification for Gabriel Bortoleto of Audi F1 Team over an engine-related infringement. In addition, changing weather conditions forced officials to adjust the schedule, moving the start time of Sunday’s main race forward by three hours.
Amid all this, attention quickly shifted to Hadjar after FIA scrutineers discovered a technical irregularity on his car during post-qualifying inspections. The 21-year-old French driver had initially secured ninth place on the grid, a respectable position that would have put him in contention for points during the race. However, that result was thrown into doubt once the technical checks revealed a breach of regulations.
According to the FIA’s findings, the issue centered on the floor boards of Hadjar’s car. Officials determined that sections on both the left-hand side and right-hand side extended 2 millimeters beyond the permitted limits defined in the sport’s technical regulations. While the margin may seem small, Formula One operates under extremely strict rules, where even the slightest deviation can result in severe penalties.
The matter was escalated by FIA Technical Delegate Jo Bauer, who referred the case to the race stewards for further review. Given the nature of the violation, the outcome was largely anticipated. Breaches involving car dimensions or aerodynamic components typically carry strict consequences, with disqualification being the standard penalty.
Hadjar and representatives from Red Bull were summoned to meet with the stewards ahead of Sunday’s race. During the hearing, the team did not contest the FIA’s measurements or findings. They accepted that parts of the car’s floor assembly had exceeded the allowed reference volume, effectively confirming the infringement.
Following the review, the FIA officially ruled that Hadjar would be disqualified from the qualifying results. As a result, his ninth-place grid position has been nullified. This means he will not start the race from his earned position and will instead face the consequences associated with such a penalty, which often includes starting from the pit lane or the back of the grid.
The stewards’ report clearly outlined the reasoning behind the decision, emphasizing that compliance with technical regulations is non-negotiable. Even though the infringement was minimal in measurement, the rules are applied uniformly to ensure fairness across all teams and drivers.
This ruling is a significant setback for Hadjar, who has been looking to establish himself in Formula One. It also represents a blow to Red Bull’s race strategy, as losing a top-10 starting position can heavily impact a team’s chances of scoring valuable championship points.
As the Miami Grand Prix unfolds, this latest development adds another layer of unpredictability to the race. With changing weather conditions, prior penalties, and now Hadjar’s disqualification, teams and drivers will need to adapt quickly in what is shaping up to be one of the most dramatic race weekends of the season.