Hadjar blames himself for Russell clash, pointing to qualifying

Isack Hadjar has blamed himself for his opening-lap collision with George Russell at the Mexico City Grand Prix, saying a better qualifying performance might have kept them apart. Russell received a 10-second penalty for the clash.

After the race, Hadjar said: “To me, honestly, it's my fault”. He reasoned that, had he qualified higher than seventh, he might have been fighting for more than a podium rather than meeting Russell on track.

Hadjar said he had been aware of Russell but had not expected him to put a wheel alongside at Turn 6, which he believed was his corner. He said he should not have trusted Russell. The Mercedes driver skipped his post-race media duties and did not give his view of the clash at that point.

Hadjar had gained two places at the start before contact sent his Red Bull spinning at Turn 6. He fell to 22nd with minor floor damage. He said he had been eyeing a podium before the collision.

He pitted for soft tyres on lap seven, shortly before a safety car and red flag. Hadjar said the car felt quick on the softs, but he found passing difficult in a train of cars. He recovered to 12th.

Before post-race penalties were announced, Hadjar highlighted his launches at both starts and said the team needed to understand how to reproduce them. Those penalties, for Oscar Piastri, Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto, moved him up to ninth and gave him two points.