Racing Bulls sanctioned after incident between Hadjar and Verstappen
During qualifying for the Chinese GP, Racing Bulls driver Isack Hadjar almost caused a collision with Max Verstappen due to poor timing when exiting the pits. Although the maneuver was narrowly avoided, Racing Bulls was fined €5,000 for the mistake.
During the Chinese Grand Prix qualifications, Isack Hadjar, a driver for Racing Bulls, was thrust into the spotlight, but not for the right reasons. As he was leaving his garage, he was released right in front of Max Verstappen, forcing the four-time world champion into a quick evasive maneuver.
The official report from the commissioners is unequivocal: « Car 6 was released into the path of car 1 in the pit lane ». An error that could have ended in a collision. And for good reason, Verstappen had to either slam on the brakes, risking flat-spotting his tires, or make a last-second swerve. Not ideal when chasing pole position…
So who is to blame?
One might think that Isack Hadjar lacked vigilance, but in reality, it was the team that made a mistake. In his hearing, the French driver defended himself: I followed the instructions of my representative in the pit lane. In other words, he went out when he was told to go out, nothing more, nothing less.
As for the Racing Bulls, they admit the fault. The stewards’ report notes that the team representative misjudged the timing of the exit and that this led to an obvious danger. The outcome? A financial penalty for the team of a €5000 fine.
So is it a trivial incident or an avoidable mistake? The debate has begun. And while some may say that these situations occur frequently, especially in the rush of qualifications where every second counts.
On the other hand, bad timing when exiting the garage can have serious consequences. A contact between the two cars could have ruined the qualification of Hadjar and Verstappen, not to mention the potential damage to the cars. Especially since the FIA does not take safety in the pit lane lightly: an accident in this area could endanger the mechanics and officials stationed near the garages.
A warning for the rest of the season
Even if the penalty is light, a fine is always preferable to a grid penalty, this mishap reminds all teams that vigilance is necessary in the pit lane.
Hadjar comes out without direct consequences on his race, but this kind of incident can quickly tarnish a rookie’s reputation. Verstappen, accustomed to handling such situations, did not lose his composure, but he certainly must not have appreciated this setback during the Grand Prix weekend.
The rest of the season will tell us if Racing Bulls has learned the lesson and if Hadjar will manage to make a name for himself through his on-track performances rather than pit stop errors!
