Isack Hadjar delivered one of the most chaotic and controversial performances of the Canadian Grand Prix, combining relentless aggression, multiple penalties and several near-disastrous moments before somehow emerging with his best Formula 1 result of the season.
At times, the French driver looked less like a racing driver and more like a boxer ready to trade punches with anyone who came close—an ironic comparison, given his well-known appreciation for combat sports. Red Bull’s junior driver built up a penalty record that would have rivalled some of Pastor Maldonado’s most infamous afternoons, yet when the chequered flag fell, it was Isack Hadjar celebrating a fifth-place finish, aided by George Russell’s retirement and McLaren’s dramatic collapse.
Despite finishing one lap behind race winner Andrea Kimi Antonelli, the result marked a major milestone in what has been an encouraging rookie campaign.
The #6 driver first received a 10-second penalty for repeatedly changing direction while defending against Charles Leclerc, in an aggressive battle that came dangerously close to ending in a major incident. As the Ferrari driver attempted to force his way through, Isack Hadjar’s defensive manoeuvres were judged excessive by the stewards.
As if that were not enough, the Frenchman was then handed a second penalty for failing to slow sufficiently under double yellow flags. This time, the punishment was far more severe: a 10-second stop-and-go penalty.
Remarkably, even that was not enough to knock him out of the top five. Isack Hadjar may also have benefited from the FIA’s updated penalty points framework this season, because under previous interpretations, such a Sunday could have significantly worsened his super licence situation.
After the race, the Red Bull driver acknowledged that while the result was positive, the race itself had been far from straightforward.
“I made a very strong start, but during the race I struggled quite a lot to maintain the pace,” Isack Hadjar explained. “The car was very fast, but much more difficult to drive compared to Saturday, when I felt more comfortable, so I couldn’t push as much as I would have liked.”
Despite the setbacks, the French driver believed even more had been possible: “I think we could have fought for fourth place, but in the end we had to settle for fifth. The overall performance of the car this weekend was very positive. We made a big step forward compared to Miami, and we made the most of the weekend. I hope we can carry the same momentum into Monaco.”
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