Isack Hadjar escapes penalty to confirm maiden podium

It was a frantic weekend for Red Bull in the principality, but Isack Hadjar can finally breathe a sigh of relief. After a tense investigation into an alleged red flag infringement, the stewards have officially ruled that no further action will be taken against the Frenchman. He keeps his P3 finish, the very first podium of his career with the team.

Everything about this result is frankly stunning, especially considering what Hadjar described as "massive driveability issues" that plagued him for almost the entire race. He crossed the line in fourth but inherited the podium after Alpine’s Pierre Gasly was hit with two five-second time penalties for speeding in the pit lane. The investigation centered on mechanics working on car number 6 during the red flag period, but officials confirmed the team reverted the car to its original state after being questioned.

It was a gutsy drive from Hadjar. He fought through limited power and admitted he "never had to send it that much in my life" to stay within the necessary gap of Gasly. Given that his teammate Max Verstappen retired on the very first lap, this result was a vital salvage job for the team in Monaco.