Hadjar Survives FIA Investigation to Claim Maiden Red Bull Podium in Chaotic Monaco GP

The 2026 Monaco Grand Prix delivered a podium outcome that remained unsettled long after the chequered flag fell. Isack Hadjar thought he had claimed his first podium for Oracle Red Bull Racing, but his third-place finish was immediately clouded by a stewards' investigation. Meanwhile, Pierre Gasly’s apparent podium celebration on the track turned to heartbreak in the stewards' room. Both stories tangled in the aftermath of a race suspended by a late red flag and a flurry of pit-lane speeding penalties.

Hadjar's Battle to the Flag

Hadjar started the race from fifth and was tasked with leading the Red Bull challenge after teammate Max Verstappen retired on the opening lap . His afternoon quickly became a test of endurance. The Frenchman reported “massive drivability issues” from the first 10 to 15 laps, including problems with first gear and a general lack of power, which cost him as much as two seconds per lap at times . His frustration boiled over on the team radio with the warning, “Something’s going to explode” .

Despite the crippling car problems, Hadjar stayed in the fight. He lost a position during the initial pit-stop phase but regained it by not stopping under the first Safety Car . When Gasly’s post-race penalties were applied, Hadjar was promoted to third place, 23.394 seconds behind the winner, for his first podium since joining Red Bull and his second career top-three finish .

The Red-Flag Investigation

The late-race suspension was caused by track surface degradation at Turn 19, which had already triggered accidents for Charles Leclerc and Lance Stroll . During the red-flag period, mechanics from Oracle Red Bull Racing were recorded by the FIA as working on Hadjar’s car number 6 in a manner not permitted under the regulations . The FIA technical delegate reported that the team was attempting to change spark plugs or coils .

Crucially, when queried by the stewards, Red Bull mechanics stopped working and returned the car to its previous state without replacing any parts . The stewards heard from the driver, team representatives, and the FIA technical delegate, and reviewed photographic evidence. They ultimately took no further action, confirming that the work had not been completed and the car remained unchanged . Hadjar’s podium was officially secured.

Gasly's Heartbreak and Alpine's Challenge

Pierre Gasly’s race was a story of two halves. He had driven from ninth on the grid to fourth, then inherited third when Mercedes’ George Russell served a late drive-through penalty . But the celebration was short-lived. Gasly was hit with two separate five-second time penalties for speeding in the pit lane—one for exceeding the 60 km/h limit by 0.1 km/h during the race and another by 0.4 km/h under the Safety Car .

The cumulative 10-second penalty dropped him from third to seventh . Gasly said he felt “heartbroken” and “robbed” of the result . In response, Alpine formally requested a Right of Review from the FIA within an hour of the race finishing . For the review to succeed, Alpine must present a significant and new element of evidence that was unavailable at the time of the decisions . The outcome could still alter the final race classification and the championship standings .

Antonelli's Monaco Masterclass

The controversy surrounding the final podium step overshadowed a history-making performance at the front. Kimi Antonelli led every lap from pole position, secured the fastest lap, and won the race—becoming the youngest winner of the Monaco Grand Prix at 19 years, 9 months, and 13 days old, breaking Lewis Hamilton’s 2008 record . The victory was his fifth consecutive win of the season, extending his championship lead to 66 points over Hamilton . Hamilton finished second for Ferrari after serving his own pit-lane speeding penalty, placing him just ahead of Hadjar in the final classification .