Sports · Motorsport · 3 hrs ago
Ralf Schumacher criticises Hadjar over US Grand Prix radio outburst
Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar finished sixth at the United States Grand Prix in Austin after starting from the second row.
He lost places at the start and later had trouble communicating with the team over the radio.
After a pit stop, a settings error also cost him time.
Hadjar blamed the clutch for the poor start and said it was too fragile and needed a redesign.
Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher criticised Hadjar’s outburst, saying the way he spoke to the team was not appropriate.
Schumacher said former Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko would have drawn a line over the behaviour; Hadjar is in his first season with Red Bull and his second in F1.
Hadjar’s comments put pressure on his relationship with the team, but the sources give no details of a response or next steps.
Ralf Schumacher criticised Isack Hadjar for airing his frustrations with Red Bull over team radio and after the United States Grand Prix.
Schumacher said Hadjar’s comments were not behaviour he should display and that Helmut Marko would have drawn a line.
Hadjar was frustrated by a poor start, radio problems and a pit-stop setting issue during the race in Austin.
He finished sixth after starting third, while teammate Max Verstappen finished third.
In Mexico, Hadjar said some of his comments were things he should have kept to himself.
- Who
- Ralf Schumacher criticised Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar.
- What
- Schumacher objected to Hadjar’s public and radio complaints about the team. Hadjar later acknowledged he could have worded some comments differently.
- When
- After the United States Grand Prix; Hadjar discussed his comments during media day in Mexico.
- Where
- The race took place in Austin, Texas. Hadjar spoke about his comments in Mexico.
- Why
- Hadjar was frustrated by problems with the car’s start, team radio and pit-stop settings. Schumacher said Hadjar should not treat the team that way.
Ralf Schumacher
Isack Hadjar
Hadjar’s comments
Ralf Schumacher
Schumacher said Hadjar’s behaviour was not appropriate and that he needed to leave it behind.
Isack Hadjar
Hadjar said he was entitled to speak his mind but admitted there were things he should have kept to himself.
Responsibility to the team
Ralf Schumacher
Schumacher said Hadjar had too much responsibility for the team, brand and himself to keep expressing himself that way.
Isack Hadjar
Hadjar said Red Bull needed to be honest with itself about problems, including the start and radio issues.
Hadjar started third, encountered problems with the start, radio and pit-stop settings, and finished sixth.
Hadjar criticised Red Bull’s execution and called for a clutch redesign.
Schumacher criticised Hadjar’s outburst, saying it was not behaviour he should display.
Hadjar acknowledged that there were things he should have kept to himself and discussed Red Bull’s race strategy.
- Hadjar’s finishing position
- Sixth in Austin
- Hadjar’s starting position
- Third
- Verstappen’s finishing position
- Third
- Hadjar’s age
- 22
- Race location
- Austin, Texas
- Team
- Red Bull
3 sources
What people are saying
I wouldn’t exactly call it a lack of decency, but it is not behaviour that you should display in this way
Actually, it is a shame that Dr Helmut Marko is no longer at the team, because I think he would absolutely have drawn a line there.
I didn't really think. We need to be honest with ourselves as well, but there’s stuff that I should have kept for myself. I know that.
It needs a redesign. That’s it. The clutch, it needs a redesign because at the moment it’s too fragile.