Hadjar escapes with formal warning for pushing paddock guest in Mexico

Isack Hadjar has avoided further sanctions after an altercation with a paddock guest at the Mexican Grand Prix, receiving only a formal warning from the F1 stewards. The Red Bull driver was summoned on Saturday morning over footage that circulated on social media showing him pushing a guest who had tried to take a selfie with him before FP1.

Why it matters:

The case highlights the tension between fan access and driver safety in F1 paddocks. The stewards accepted that Hadjar was reacting to an aggressive, uninvited approach, and that security failed to prevent the guest from entering his personal space.

The details:

• Hadjar said he was running late for FP1 and had already stopped for a photo with a young fan when the guest approached him "in an aggressive manner."
• The stewards noted that a security person behind Hadjar could not intervene, describing the guest's action as "tantamount to an invasion of the driver's private space."
• Hadjar initially resisted before pushing the guest aside with his open right hand, a breach of Article 12.2.1.l of the FIA International Sporting Code covering misconduct.
• The stewards cited five mitigating factors in issuing only a warning: the uninvited and aggressive action, Hadjar's need to reach the Red Bull garage through a congested area, insufficient security, the invasion of personal space without consent, and the general issue drivers face moving through the paddock.

What's next:

The warning closes the matter, but it adds to ongoing discussions about paddock protocols and how close guests should be allowed to get to drivers.