Hadjar Points Finger at Antonelli After Costly Shanghai Sprint Collision

Red Bull's Isack Hadjar has criticized Kimi Antonelli for their opening-lap tangle at Shanghai's Formula 1 sprint competition, an unfortunate collision that eliminated any realistic prospects of the Frenchman earning championship points.

Hadjar's frustration is understandable given the circumstances. The 10th-placed starter had executed a respectable launch off the line, positioning himself well for what could have been a productive afternoon in China. However, Antonelli's involvement in the incident proved pivotal, ultimately costing Hadjar a chance to break into the points-scoring positions.

The consequences were significant for the Red Bull driver's campaign. Finishing 15th represented another disappointing result in what has been a challenging start to his tenure with the team. His woes trace back to last weekend's 2026 season-opening Australian Grand Prix, where he was forced into early retirement—a setback that made the Shanghai sprint all the more crucial for building momentum.

The lap-one mishap in China came at a particularly inopportune moment, denying Hadjar the opportunity to register his first points of the season and inject some confidence into what has been a difficult introduction to his Red Bull chapter.