Hadjar says fans should take a look at themselves: This is not a reality show
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Isack Hadjar breathed a sigh of relief after the investigation into his altercation with a fan on Friday. The stewards gave him only a formal warning, one of the most lenient measures available to the FIA. Hadjar welcomed the decision, but has appealed to fans and hopes he will not have to act as his own security guard next time.
Hadjar had to arrive at the circuit a little earlier than usual. He had been summoned by the stewards, who needed to establish exactly what had happened in the paddock and why Hadjar had pushed a fan who wanted a photograph. Their verdict ultimately cited five mitigating factors in the driver’s favour, ranging from the fan’s aggression and invasion of his personal space to the generally overcrowded paddock in Mexico.
He believes the verdict was right. “I am, because they were right, it makes sense,” said Isack Hadjar after Saturday’s running. “I’m glad they took the right decision. I was talking to the stewards and they understood my point. So, yeah, fair play.”
Here is the WHOLE clip of Isack Hadjar walking in the paddock and the interaction with the fan.
According to Hadjar, paddock guests should remember that they are just that: guests. “There are limits to everything, especially at that age. If you’re a child, I’ll have a photo taken. But if I don’t want a photo because you’re a grown man, don’t invade my personal space, because I’m here to work. This isn’t a reality show,” he said. “I’m actually going to work in the garage.”
Security did nothing to help Hadjar on this occasion; in fact, there were no security guards around him. “The next time I need someone who does the security job a bit better and I’ll be out of trouble. I don´t wanna do security for myself.”
Qualifying disaster: I’ve been driving like a three-year-old child
Isack Hadjar was only two tenths of a second behind his team-mate in qualifying, but that gap does not tell the full story. He was helped in closing the gap to Max Verstappen by Lando Norris, who was rather clumsy in getting out of the Dutchman’s way on a flying lap. Had Verstappen avoided trouble in the final sector, the gap between him and Hadjar would have been bigger.
Saturday had not gone at all well for the Frenchman. “I’ve been driving like a three-year-old child. Qualifying has been a disaster. I’ve made so many mistakes I couldn’t keep the car on track. The car doesn’t turn. It’s terrible. My lap was horrible.”
Turn 13 was also a problem. “It was a disaster. I was just locking up all the time. I don´t know why. The whole weekend’s been pretty smooth for me around this corner. Little bit this morning, but nothing major, and now I just… And my lap was terrible. It was terrible lap and it’s seventh. Honestly, I’m just very lucky.”