Isack Hadjar found himself having a heated exchange with a fan after qualifying ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix over the weekend.
The Racing Bulls driver was leaving the media pen when a photograph request turned into a verbal spat.
The incident began innocuously when the 20-year-old was asked for a photograph. However, things turned sour when the fan made a disrespectful comment towards Hadjar, leading to the confrontation that left the rookie driver visibly upset.
Hadjar was seen following the man to the bridge leading to Red Bull's hospitality unit after the heated exchange. The confrontation left him visibly shaken as he headed towards the Sky Sports television crew for a live interview.
Isack Hadjar had a heated exchange during the weekend
Sky Sports
When he appeared on screen with the Sky Sports team, the young driver was seemingly still upset and was seen staring off into the distance.
The incident stemmed from what is believed to have been a misunderstanding with the fan, though the disrespectful comment had clearly affected the Racing Bulls driver's composure before his television appearance.
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Despite this unpleasant encounter, the incident didn't seem to ruin Hadjar's weekend. He went on to achieve his best result of the F1 season in Monaco, securing a commendable sixth-placed finish.
The Racing Bulls driver was outpaced only by the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, the Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, and world champion Max Verstappen.
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The Racing Bulls driver looked shaken after the interaction
PA
This result marked Hadjar's fourth points-scoring finish of the season, demonstrating his resilience in bouncing back from the pre-race confrontation to deliver his strongest performance of the campaign.
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Afterwards, Hadjar took the opportunity to praise his team-mate Liam Lawson for his role in the successful race. "Qualifying was the most intense day and most hard work I've had to put in since I can remember," Hadjar admitted.
"And the race, it was a bit easier because I really relied on Liam. He followed the strategy, the plan perfectly and he offered me really early pit stops.
The Racing Bulls both cored points in Monaco
PA
"The driver reflected on his qualifying struggles, saying: "You go into FP3, you finish P17, you go into quali, confidence is a bit ruined. And I'm proud that we didn't give up and we played it smart."
Hadjar will aim to keep his good run of form going this weekend as F1 takes to Spain with new technical regulations in place.
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