Hadjar Blasts Sainz Over Monza Q1 Out-Lap Incident

Why it matters:Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls rookie, openly expressed his frustration with Williams driver Carlos Sainz after Saturday's Italian Grand Prix qualifying session at Monza. Hadjar accused Sainz of deliberately disrupting his crucial out-lap in Q1, highlighting the intense competition for track position and clean air in Formula 1 qualifying.

The Incident:

Just a week after his maiden Formula 1 podium at Zandvoort, Hadjar faced a challenging return to reality. Knocked out in Q1 and set to start from the pitlane due to a power unit penalty, the French-Algerian driver did not hold back in his criticism of Sainz’s tactics.

• Hadjar's Account:

  • He felt Sainz compromised his rhythm during his decisive first runs in qualifying.
  • "The out-lap was a mess with Carlos, he was just playing around a lot to then let me by," Hadjar told Sky Sports F1.
  • He further accused Sainz of intentionally making his out-lap difficult: "I was on new tyres, Carlos was on used. He was playing around, trying to make my lap difficult on my out-lap and then not really letting me by properly. I just don't know what he was doing."
  • Despite his irritation, Hadjar stated he would not confront Sainz, acknowledging that his pitlane start rendered any Q1 recovery irrelevant: "No, he has his reasons... Anyway, I'm starting last tomorrow, so even if I was putting it on pole I wouldn't care because I'm starting from the back."

• Sainz's Defense:

  • Sainz, who qualified P13, quickly dismissed Hadjar’s accusations.
  • He insisted he played by the rules: "I didn’t jump the queue, I just joined the queue from where I was joining... I left one car by, but—as long as I have one tyre on the fast lane I’m able to go."

What's next:

This clash underscores the cutthroat nature of qualifying at high-speed tracks like Monza, where track position is paramount. Hadjar now faces the daunting task of fighting through the field from the pitlane. His undeniable pace and recent success suggest he is eager to make a statement in Sunday's race, regardless of his starting position.