Isack Hadjar has accepted full responsibility for the lap-one collision with George Russell at the Formula 1 Mexico Grand Prix, describing the incident as a direct consequence of his qualifying performance. The Frenchman qualified seventh at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, finishing two-tenths of a second and three grid positions behind Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen. Despite gaining two places off the line, Hadjar found himself in a tight battle with the Mercedes driver, who failed to yield space entering Turn 6, causing Hadjar to spin and effectively ending his race for the day.
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Although the incident was chaotic, Hadjar miraculously salvaged two championship points from the wreckage. However, the driver expressed deep frustration, stating that he did not expect Russell to keep a wheel alongside his rear tires in a corner he believed was completely his. “It’s a shame,” Hadjar admitted. “I honestly did not expect George to stick a wheel up Turn 6… I was aware of him, and I shouldn’t have trusted him in the end, but it happens.” The Mercedes driver notably skipped post-race media duties, leaving the narrative to the Red Bull junior who took the high road in his self-assessment.
Hadjar’s analysis highlights a critical lesson in race strategy: maximizing position at the front minimizes exposure to mid-pack battles. He argued that a stronger qualifying effort would have placed him in a fight for a podium rather than a position where he would inevitably cross paths with Russell. “To me, honestly, it’s my fault if that happened today,” he concluded. “If I had done a better job yesterday, I wouldn’t be starting seventh… These things happen, but it’s better to maximise your chance at the front.” This candid admission underscores the intense pressure on the rookie to deliver consistent top-three results as he settles into the Red Bull seat.
Source: Yahoo Sports
