Isack Hadjar handed stewards verdict after scary B… read more
Isack Hadjar was involved in a frightening incident during the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, which saw him crash heavily at the high-speed Copse corner. The incident, which occurred during the early stages of the race, was triggered by extremely poor weather conditions that created treacherous visibility for all drivers. The crash happened after Hadjar collided with Kimi Antonelli, resulting in a stewards’ investigation that ultimately concluded with no penalty for the Racing Bulls driver.
During a torrential downpour that blanketed the Silverstone circuit, visibility dropped dramatically for the drivers navigating the high-speed corners. On approach to Turn 9—known as Copse—Hadjar, unable to clearly see ahead of him due to the spray and heavy rainfall, unintentionally drove into the rear of Antonelli’s Mercedes. The impact caused Hadjar to lose control of his car, spinning out and slamming into the barriers with considerable force. Although he escaped without injury, the car sustained significant damage, forcing him to retire from the race. Antonelli, meanwhile, was able to continue for a short while but later retired due to the aftereffects of the collision.
Following the incident, the FIA stewards launched a post-race investigation to determine whether either driver was at fault for the crash. Both Hadjar and Antonelli were summoned to give their accounts, and the stewards also reviewed extensive data, including onboard footage, positioning and marshalling system data, and video evidence. After examining all available material, the stewards reached the conclusion that the crash was an unfortunate racing incident caused by extreme weather and poor visibility rather than negligence or recklessness on either driver’s part.
The official report from the stewards offered further clarity on their decision: “The Stewards heard from the driver of Car 6 (Isack Hadjar), the driver of Car 12 (Kimi Antonelli), team representatives and reviewed positioning/marshalling system data, video and in-car video evidence. Car 6 ran into the back of Car 12 at Turn 9 in heavy rain and crashed into the barriers. Both drivers said that the visibility was so poor in the rain that they simply could not see anything in front of them. The driver of Car 12 stated that he slowed down earlier than normal due to the heavy rain. This caught Car 6 by surprise. A collision occurred but that was unavoidable as both viewed themselves as passengers in the rain. In these circumstances, they considered that no driver could be blamed for the collision. We agreed and therefore took no further action against the driver of Car 6.”
This verdict highlights the inherent dangers of racing in extremely wet conditions, where even the most experienced drivers can find themselves helpless. The spray from the cars ahead creates a wall of water, drastically reducing visibility and reaction time. While some might have expected penalties to be handed out in such a high-impact incident, the stewards’ decision underscored the fact that not all collisions result from driver error. Instead, this was a rare case where conditions were simply too unpredictable and treacherous to allow for normal racing judgments.
Hadjar’s crash was one of several incidents in what proved to be a chaotic and rain-affected British Grand Prix. The rookie driver has shown promise throughout the 2025 season, but the Silverstone event served as a reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in Formula 1, especially under unpredictable weather conditions. Thankfully, both Hadjar and Antonelli escaped injury, and the stewards’ decision allowed both teams to focus on recovery and preparation for the upcoming races without the burden of additional penalties or grid drops.
In the end, the crash at Copse served as a powerful example of motorsport’s unpredictability and the razor-thin margin between control and chaos in wet conditions. While Hadjar’s British Grand Prix ended prematurely, the lack of penalty from the stewards allows him to move forward with confidence as the season progresses.
