A promising qualifying performance for Red Bull Racing’s Isack Hadjar has been erased following a technical breach, leaving the French driver to start the 2026 Miami Grand Prix from the back of the grid.
Hadjar had initially secured ninth position during the qualifying session at the Miami International Autodrome, finishing 0.825 seconds behind teammate Max Verstappen. However, a post-session inspection by race officials revealed a violation of the 2026 F1 technical regulations, resulting in his disqualification from the session.
The penalty transforms what was a top-10 start into a recovery mission, as Hadjar will now line up 22nd on the grid for today’s race. The decision comes at a critical juncture for Red Bull, which introduced a suite of upgrades to the RB22 specifically for the Miami event to enhance overall performance.
Technical Breach: The 2mm Floor Discrepancy
The disqualification stems from a failure during post-qualifying scrutineering. Race stewards determined that the floor of Hadjar’s RB22 exceeded the maximum dimensions permitted under the current technical framework. Specifically, the floor was found to be protruding approximately 2mm beyond the specifications allowed for the reference volume RV-FLOOR BOARD
.
Following a hearing held early Sunday morning involving Hadjar and a representative from Red Bull Racing, the stewards issued a formal report. According to the FIA documents, the team did not dispute the findings of the Technical Delegate regarding the protrusions on both the left-hand side (LHS) and right-hand side (RHS) floor boards.
Under F1 technical regulations, breaches of this nature carry a standard penalty of disqualification from the session. While the qualifying time was stripped, Red Bull requested that Hadjar still be allowed to compete in the Grand Prix. Race officials granted this request, permitting him to start the race from the 22nd position.
RB22 Upgrades and Performance Gap
The technical failure is a setback for a Red Bull team that appeared to have found a significant leap in pace with their Miami upgrades. The RB22’s new specifications provided immediate results for Max Verstappen, who secured a front-row start in second place, trailing only pole-sitter Kimi Antonelli.
Despite the eventual disqualification, Hadjar’s initial ninth-place effort highlighted a struggle to fully harness the car’s new potential. Speaking after the qualifying session, Hadjar expressed difficulty with the vehicle’s handling and a lack of competitive speed on the straights.
“The car was very hard to drive, it was very prompt. In Q3 I just couldn’t put it all together and on the other side we have no straight line speed.” Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing Driver
Hadjar attributed some of these struggles to the specific conditions at the Miami International Autodrome, noting that high track temperatures and low grip levels made the surface very tricky
compared to the first three rounds of the season. He observed that while he made progress in the corners, he was unable to match the adaptability of Verstappen in those conditions, as reported by Motorsport.com.
What This Means for the Miami GP
Starting from 22nd puts Hadjar in a precarious position, necessitating an aggressive strategy to move through the field. However, the forecast for the Miami Grand Prix suggests a very wet race, a variable that often neutralizes grid position and rewards driver skill and opportunistic strategy.
For Red Bull, the focus now shifts to maximizing Verstappen’s chance at a victory from second on the grid while hoping the wet conditions allow Hadjar to recover from his technical setback.
Key Takeaways: Hadjar’s Disqualification
- The Violation: The RB22 floor protruded 2mm beyond the RV-FLOOR BOARD reference volume.
- The Penalty: Disqualification from qualifying; starting position moved to 22nd.
- Team Response: Red Bull did not dispute the FIA’s technical findings.
- Performance Context: Hadjar initially qualified 9th, but struggled with straight-line speed and car handling.
The race is scheduled to begin later today. All eyes will be on whether the predicted rain creates the chaos necessary for Hadjar to salvage his weekend.
World Today Journal will continue to provide updates on the Miami Grand Prix. Share your thoughts on the stewards’ decision in the comments below.