Key Highlights:
- Isack Hadjar stormed from seventh to fifth at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez before an opening-lap collision with George Russell relegated him to the back of the pack.
- The FIA stewards handed George Russell a 10-second time penalty for lunging down the inside at Turn 6 and sending Hadjar into a spin.
- Despite further setbacks involving Safety Car timings and an off-track excursion onto the grass, Hadjar recovered to secure a ninth-place finish.
Turn 6 Clash Derails Hadjar’s Blistering Launch in Mexico City
A masterclass start off the line was undone within seconds for Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. Starting from seventh on the grid, the French racer delivered a flawless getaway, aggressively picking his way through traffic to secure fifth place through the opening complex of corners. However, the promising bid for a significant points haul was derailed when Mercedes competitor George Russell made an aggressive dive into Turn 6.
Attempting to recover ground lost during a sluggish getaway, George Russell thrust his Mercedes up the inside of the Red Bull in the Turn 6 braking zone. The collision pitched Isack Hadjar into a spin, dropping him straight to the rear of the field. Although the FIA stewards promptly investigated the maneuver and handed the Mercedes driver a 10-second penalty, the ruling did little to repair the immediate collapse of Red Bull’s strategic game plan.
Addressing the incident in the paddock after the race, the 22-year-old reflected on what could have been. “Today was a real shame,”
Hadjar explained. “We knew there was pace in the car coming into the race, so we just wanted to focus on getting a good start, and that’s exactly what we did. I managed to get up to fifth and felt really strong through the first few corners.”
Describing the critical turn of events, he added: “Unfortunately, George stuck a wheel up the inside at T6, and I was sent straight to the back,”
he lamented. “From then on, it was going to be so difficult to get back into the points.”
Strategic Gamble and Safety Car Complications
With their pre-race plan ruined on the very first tour, the Milton Keynes pit wall rolled the dice. Red Bull altered their strategy by switching Hadjar onto the medium compound tyres, aiming to release the RB22 into clear air so the driver could exploit its underlying pace. Even though the speed was evident, maneuvering past traffic on the narrow, high-altitude layout of the Mexico City circuit presented immense difficulties.
The strategic salvage effort was further disrupted by untimely caution periods and chaotic restarts that continuously halted Hadjar’s progress through the midfield. “We pitted onto the Medium, and in the free air, I could feel the pace, but overtaking on this track is very tricky,”
the young charger detailed. “We got unlucky with the Safety Car timing, and then, on the second restart, I went backwards again as I got closed onto the grass.”
Despite enduring the Lap 1 spin, disadvantageous Safety Car interventions, and a forced run across the grass during a chaotic restart, Hadjar mounted a determined recovery drive to claim ninth position at the chequered flag.
Why This Matters
The Mexican Grand Prix underscored both the resilience of Isack Hadjar and the competitive potential of the Red Bull package, even when early adversity strikes. Surviving multiple mid-race setbacks to salvage two championship points demonstrates Hadjar’s growing maturity during wheel-to-wheel combat in the senior ranks. With the triple-header concluding at Interlagos, the team remains confident that their underlying race pace and robust standing starts can deliver a stronger result in Brazil.
“It’s not been an ideal weekend, but the car was very fast, and our starts were good, so there are definitely positives heading into Brazil,”
he concluded.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was George Russell penalized during the Mexican Grand Prix?
FIA stewards issued a 10-second time penalty to George Russell after he attempted an aggressive overtaking maneuver down the inside of Turn 6, causing a collision that sent Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar into a spin on the opening lap.
Where did Isack Hadjar finish after his Lap 1 incident?
Despite dropping to the tail end of the field following the spin and navigating unfavorable Safety Car intervals, Isack Hadjar fought his way back through the midfield to cross the line in ninth place.
What compound did Red Bull switch Hadjar to after the incident?
Following the Turn 6 spin, Red Bull changed their tactical approach and fitted Hadjar with medium compound tyres to maximize his lap times in free air.
