Isack Hadjar Referred to Stewards After Paddock Fan Altercation in Mexico

Tempers flared in the Mexico City Grand Prix paddock on Friday when Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar became involved in a physical altercation with an attendee. The clash occurred directly after the conclusion of opening practice, with video footage emerging on social media that showed the Frenchman pushing a fan who attempted to grab a selfie at his side.

According to the video circulating across online platforms, Hadjar appeared visibly annoyed as he walked through the paddock area. The fan approached him seeking a photograph, and although an official partially obstructed the camera view during the incident, Hadjar seemed to signal that he did not want a picture. When the spectator continued to press for a photo opportunity, Hadjar pushed him aside to keep moving. What was spoken between the two during the brief exchange remains unclear.

Following the circulation of the clip, SPORTbible reported that Hadjar had been sent to the FIA stewards over the incident. Neither the governing body nor the Red Bull team has issued an official statement outlining the status of the review, but paddock altercations between competitors and visitors routinely trigger scrutiny from race officials tasked with maintaining paddock conduct.

The confrontation followed an intensely frustrating start to the Mexico City Grand Prix weekend for Hadjar on track. During the opening practice session, the Frenchman was severely hampered by power unit trouble aboard his RB22, restricting his running and leaving him eleventh on the timing sheets when the session drew to a close.

Compounding that frustration was the comparative pace demonstrated on the other side of the garage. Rookie Ayumu Iwasa took over driving duties for opening practice while Max Verstappen sat out the session, and Iwasa promptly set the fifth-fastest time of the morning. Verstappen returned to the cockpit for second practice, leaving Hadjar to digest both mechanical trouble and an early deficit to his temporary teammate.

Paddock congestion and driver security have drawn growing scrutiny from competitors across recent race weekends. In comments given to Dutch publication De Telegraaf in Singapore and cited by Crash.net, Verstappen remarked that the Formula 1 paddock now resembles a zoo because of the large volume of VIPs and invited guests. The four-time world champion pointed out that moving from his room to the garage and the pit lane without interruption had become almost impossible, noting that visitors regularly seek photos and conversation even inside private hospitality suites when drivers need rest.

Although Verstappen conceded that high fan demand is part of the sport and reflects strong sporting achievement, he stressed that drivers must be able to focus and rest without constant disruption. Hadjar's physical reaction in Mexico illustrated how rapidly friction can develop when mechanical disappointment in the car collides with persistent attention in the paddock. With the matter reportedly reaching the stewards, the Red Bull driver now faces an anxious wait to see whether the confrontation brings formal disciplinary consequences.

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