Hadjar Penalised After Near‑Miss with Leclerc but Keeps Career‑Best Fifth

Overview

• During the Canadian Grand Prix, Isack Hadjar squeezed Charles Leclerc at the end of the back straight in a high‑speed battle that narrowly forced Leclerc toward the grass and risked heavy contact.
• Race stewards handed Hadjar a 10‑second time penalty for the defensive move and a separate stop‑and‑go for not slowing sufficiently under yellow flags, and the official classification stood with Hadjar fifth.
• Hadjar publicly apologised for making a move he called 'too harsh' and 'a bit stupid', and Leclerc said the penalty was deserved and accepted Hadjar's apology.
• Despite the penalties, Hadjar recorded his best F1 result to date but said he suffered an unexplained drop in pace during the race that his team must investigate.
• The episode highlights how current F1 cars create large closing speeds and limited rear visibility, which raise the risk of split‑second defensive errors and put a premium on young drivers learning cleaner racecraft.