Isack Hadjar Disqualified from Miami GP Qualifying After Technical Violation

Red Bull Racing introduced a series of upgrades for the 2026 Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix, aiming to enhance performance in their RB22 chassis. The changes proved effective for Max Verstappen, who secured a front-row qualifying spot and will start second alongside pole-sitter Kimi Antonelli.

Isack Hadjar, however, qualified eighth, trailing Verstappen by 0.825 seconds. His race-day prospects took a turn Sunday morning when he was disqualified from qualifying following a post-session inspection.

Technical Violation Leads to Disqualification

During scrutineering, race stewards discovered that Hadjar’s RB22’s floor protruded approximately 2 millimeters beyond the specifications outlined in the 2026 F1 technical regulations. Hadjar and a Red Bull representative attended an early Sunday morning hearing with race officials.

In the stewards’ report, they confirmed that Red Bull did not contest the findings:

Red Bull “did not dispute the findings of the Technical Delegate that portions of the LHS and RHS floor boards were protruding 2mm out of the reference volume RV-FLOOR BOARD.”

The standard penalty for such a breach is disqualification from the session. Red Bull subsequently requested that Hadjar be allowed to start the race despite the disqualification, which was granted by officials. As a result, Hadjar will begin the race from 22nd on the grid.

Hadjar Reflects on Qualifying Struggles

Speaking after qualifying, Hadjar expressed frustration with both the car’s performance and the Miami circuit’s challenging conditions:

“The car was very hard to drive, it was very fast. In Q3 I just couldn’t put it all together and on the other side we have no straight line speed.”

“I think it’s a very tricky track, very low grip with high track temperature. So nothing to do with what we had in the first three rounds. It’s not a very fluid racing track with good grip.”

“It’s completely different and Max is very good at adapting to these conditions. In the corners I can tell you I’ve made big progress compared to yesterday. I just couldn’t tidy up like he did and on top of that I’m missing in every straight.”

Hadjar acknowledged Max Verstappen’s adaptability to the Miami track’s unique demands, while also highlighting areas for improvement in his own performance.

Wet Race Expected at Miami Grand Prix

With the Miami Grand Prix anticipated to feature wet conditions, Hadjar faces an uphill battle to recover positions on the track. His ability to manage the RB22’s handling in low-grip scenarios will be critical as he aims to salvage points for Red Bull Racing.