Hadjar gets formal warning for pushing paddock guest in Mexico City
The Mexico City stewards have given Red Bull's Isack Hadjar a formal warning for pushing a paddock guest before first practice. They found a breach of the regulations but cited five mitigating circumstances, including too little security around the driver.
A warning instead of a penalty
Isack Hadjar will not face a fine or a grid drop for the paddock scene that had been circulating since Friday. After a hearing on Saturday, the stewards at the Mexico City Grand Prix gave the Red Bull driver a formal warning, as reported by The Race, PlanetF1 and RacingNews365. They did describe the push as a breach of the regulations, but they chose the mildest outcome.
What the stewards found
The incident happened on Friday while Hadjar was walking to the Red Bull garage ahead of first practice. A video on social media appeared to show him pushing a person who had asked for a selfie. The stewards then called him in over alleged misconduct.
According to the stewards' account of his statement, Hadjar was running late for FP1 and had stopped to pose for a photo with a young fan. A paddock guest then approached him "in an aggressive manner", while a security person walking behind him could not step in. Hadjar first placed a hand on the guest's waist to hold him back, then pushed him aside with his open right hand. The stewards classed this as a breach of Article 12.2.1.l of the FIA International Sporting Code.
Five mitigating factors
Under the guidelines in Appendix B of the code, the stewards listed circumstances that led to the warning. He was reacting to an uninvited and rather aggressive action by another person. He was trying to get through a congested area to the start of FP1. He did not have enough security with him. The guest entered his personal space without consent. And drivers in general have a hard time moving through the paddock.
What it means
A formal warning carries no sporting penalty, so Hadjar's weekend is unaffected. He finished sixth in Friday's second practice session, and Red Bull and McLaren are level in the Constructors' standings. Qualifying for the Mexico City Grand Prix follows later on Saturday, with the race on Sunday.
