Isack Hadjar Rejects Kimi Antonelli Gesture As Red Bull Struggles With Grip Deficit Following Sprint Race Collision

Red Bull's Isack Hadjar rejects Kimi Antonelli's handshake in parc fermé as Verstappen slams "undriveable" RB22 following Chinese GP qualifying.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 14, 2026, 4:27 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from PlanetF1

Post Race Friction Exposed In Untelevised Parc Fermé Exchange

A tense moment between two of Formula One’s emerging talents came to light through onboard camera footage, revealing Isack Hadjar’s refusal to accept an apology from Kimi Antonelli. Following their Lap 2 collision during the 100km Sprint in Shanghai, Antonelli approached the Red Bull RB22 in parc fermé to offer a conciliatory hand. Hadjar, still seated in the cockpit, was seen waving the gesture away before exiting the vehicle. The cold reception highlights the brewing rivalry and rising pressure as both drivers navigate their debut season under the intense scrutiny of the Mercedes and Red Bull development programs.

Stewards Intervene After Opening Lap Maneuver Goes Awry

The conflict originated in the early stages of the Sprint race when Antonelli, who had dropped back after a poor start from the front row, attempted a recovery move on Hadjar. The resulting contact significantly damaged Hadjar’s race prospects, relegating him to the back of the field, while Antonelli managed to continue. Race stewards deemed the Italian driver primarily at fault, issuing a 10 second time penalty for the infraction. Despite the technical sanction, Antonelli’s superior car speed allowed him to salvage a top five finish, a result that clearly added to Hadjar’s frustration given his own 15th place classification.

Red Bull Technical Crisis Deepens With Undriveable RB22 Platform

Beyond the on track skirmishes, the weekend has exposed severe fundamental flaws within the Red Bull technical camp. Leading driver Max Verstappen offered a scathing review of the car’s performance, labeling the RB22 as completely undriveable during the qualifying sessions. Hadjar echoed these sentiments, admitting that the team is currently operating at the absolute limit of a flawed package. The lack of aerodynamic load has left the drivers struggling for consistency, with the gap to the frontrunners expanding as the technical demands of the Shanghai circuit highlight the chassis' inherent instability.