“We made a mistake and we respect the decision of the stewards,” said Laurent Mekies, team boss of Red Bull Racing, following Isack Hadjar’s disqualification from the qualifying session at the Miami Grand Prix.
This disqualification stems from a significant technical breach, as Hadjar’s car had floorboards protruding 2mm outside the permitted reference volume. Initially, he qualified in ninth position but will now start the race from the pit lane after changes to his power unit.
The incident unfolded at the Miami International Autodrome, where Hadjar advanced to Q3 before facing disqualification. The FIA stewards confirmed that portions of both the left-hand side (LHS) and right-hand side (RHS) floorboards were outside regulatory limits.
Key facts about the disqualification:
- Hadjar was disqualified due to a breach of FIA regulations.
- The floorboards were found to be 2mm outside of the allowed reference volume.
- Hadjar’s original qualifying position was ninth.
- Red Bull accepted the findings regarding the legality of the floor design.
- The usual penalty for such violations includes disqualification and starting from the pit lane.
Mekies expressed regret over the incident, emphasizing that no performance advantage was intended. This situation not only alters Hadjar’s race strategy but also places additional pressure on Red Bull as they navigate this setback in a competitive Formula 1 landscape.
