Isack Hadjar Miami GP disqualification

“We made a mistake and we respect the decision of the stewards,” said Red Bull team boss Laurent Mekies regarding Isack Hadjar’s disqualification from the Miami Grand Prix qualifying session. This incident highlights a significant technical breach by Red Bull, impacting Hadjar’s race strategy.

Hadjar was disqualified due to his car’s floorboards protruding 2mm outside the permitted reference volume as outlined in FIA regulations. Before the disqualification, he had qualified in ninth position, a promising start for the race.

The FIA stewards confirmed the disqualification after an investigation. Red Bull accepted the findings of the technical delegate, acknowledging that portions of the left-hand side (LHS) and right-hand side (RHS) floorboards were indeed outside the legal limits.

As a result of this ruling, Hadjar will now start the Miami Grand Prix from 22nd position, as he will also need to make changes to his power unit. The usual penalty for such violations involves disqualification and starting from the pit lane, which reflects a strict adherence to compliance within Formula 1.

Mekies expressed regret over the incident, stating that no performance advantage was intended. The team is now focused on rectifying this issue and ensuring compliance with FIA regulations moving forward.