Red Bull’s promising young driver Isack Hadjar is facing a major setback at the Miami Grand Prix, with disqualification from qualifying appearing increasingly likely following a technical infringement.
The 21-year-old Frenchman had originally delivered a solid performance in Saturday’s qualifying session, securing ninth place on the grid for Sunday’s race. However, that result now hangs in the balance after post-session checks by the FIA uncovered an issue with his car that violates the sport’s strict regulations.
The race itself has already been affected by external factors, with officials deciding to move the start time forward by three hours due to the threat of severe thunderstorms and lightning in the Miami Gardens area. Instead of the scheduled late-afternoon start, the race will now get underway at 1pm local time (6pm UK), adding further unpredictability to an already dramatic weekend.
Hadjar’s troubles stem from a detailed inspection conducted after qualifying by FIA technical staff. During these routine checks, scrutineers identified that specific components of his car—namely the floor boards—did not conform to the required design limits. These floor edges play a crucial aerodynamic role, helping to manage airflow around the car, particularly by guiding turbulent air away from the front wheels to improve overall efficiency.
According to the findings, both the left-hand side and right-hand side floor boards extended approximately two millimeters beyond the permitted reference volume. While the discrepancy might seem minor, Formula 1 operates under extremely tight technical tolerances, where even the smallest deviation can lead to serious consequences. The regulations are designed to ensure fairness and maintain a level playing field across all teams.
The issue was formally reported by FIA Technical Director Jo Bauer, who referred the matter to the race stewards for further review. In an official statement, Bauer confirmed that the car had failed to comply with Article C3.5.5 of the Formula 1 Technical Regulations, which governs the dimensions and positioning of the floor assembly.
Hadjar has since been summoned to meet with the stewards, where the case will be assessed. However, precedent suggests that the likely outcome will be disqualification from the qualifying session. If that decision is confirmed, his lap times will be deleted from the official results, and he will be required to start the race from the pit lane—a significant disadvantage in a highly competitive field.
Such a penalty would represent a frustrating blow for the young driver, who has been building momentum and demonstrating strong pace throughout the weekend. Starting from the pit lane not only puts him at the back of the grid but also forces him to fight through traffic, making it far more difficult to score valuable championship points.
Meanwhile, his Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen remains well-positioned at the front of the grid. The Dutch driver will line up in second place, just behind pole-sitter Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes, setting up an intriguing battle at the front of the field.
As the situation unfolds, all eyes will be on the stewards’ final verdict. If the expected disqualification is confirmed, it will serve as a reminder of how unforgiving Formula 1’s technical regulations can be, where even the smallest margin of error can dramatically alter the course of a race weekend.
