Isack Hadjar issued a direct instruction to his Red Bull race engineer, Richard Wood, to “shut up” during the final qualifying session for the Mexican Grand Prix on Saturday, October 31, 2026. The incident occurred as Hadjar was on his in-lap in Q3, with teammate Max Verstappen approaching on a flying lap.
Wood had instructed Hadjar to move his car to the side of the circuit before Turn 12 to allow Verstappen, who was six seconds behind and pushing, to pass unimpeded. Hadjar initially did not comply with the clear instruction.
After further prompting from his engineer, Hadjar responded with “Make no worries” before his outburst. Verstappen’s final Q3 lap was ultimately compromised by running deep at Turn 13 and dirty air from a car ahead.
This radio exchange follows a series of contentious moments for Hadjar during the 2026 Formula 1 season. Just days prior, after the United States Grand Prix on October 25, Hadjar had apologised to his engineers for his aggressive tone over the radio.
During the Austin race, Hadjar initially resisted a team order to let Verstappen pass. Verstappen was on a two-stop strategy, while Hadjar was on a one-stop.
Hadjar stated, “I don’t want to lose time, I can’t let Max past, sorry,” before Wood firmly reiterated the instruction. Hadjar eventually complied at Turn 15, finishing the race in sixth place, with Verstappen in third.
Both Hadjar and Verstappen have experienced recurring radio communication issues with Red Bull throughout the 2026 season, including at the Singapore and United States Grands Prix. Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has acknowledged the team does not fully understand the cause of these persistent problems.
Verstappen described the radio failures as “a disaster” and “a bit weird,” suggesting the team might need to resort to sign language. Hadjar also reported significant radio problems in Austin, stating he “couldn’t hear anything” and almost pitted at the wrong time.
The communication difficulties in Austin also led to Hadjar rejoining the track with an incorrect engine map after a pit stop. He publicly criticised Red Bull’s clutch, calling it “too fragile” and demanding a redesign after a poor start in the US Grand Prix.
Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher has criticised Hadjar’s radio outbursts, advising him to “take it down a notch.” Schumacher also noted the absence of Helmut Marko, suggesting Hadjar might have faced a more direct reprimand under Marko’s previous tenure.
Hadjar also received a formal warning from stewards during Free Practice 3 at the United States Grand Prix for a “retaliatory action” towards Alex Albon. This occurred after Hadjar locked up and swerved towards Albon.
Despite these incidents, Hadjar is currently P8 in the 2026 Drivers’ Championship with 97 points. He has secured two podium finishes this season, including a third-place at the Monaco Grand Prix on June 7, and another third-place at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Hadjar joined Oracle Red Bull Racing from Visa Cash App Racing Bulls for the 2026 season. Red Bull management faces the task of addressing Hadjar’s conduct to ensure team cohesion and adherence to instructions.
