Red Bull legend slams Isack Hadjar fan incident: ‘This isn’t a petting zoo’

Former Red Bull mechanic and ambassador Calum Nicholas has defended Isack Hadjar following an altercation with a fan at the Mexican Grand Prix. Ahead of Friday's FP1, Hadjar shoved an approaching paddock guest who attempted to put his arm around him for an uninvited selfie. Nicholas called the subsequent stewards' summons odd, stating that drivers' personal space must be respected and adding that Formula 1 is not a petting zoo.

The FIA stewards handed Hadjar a formal warning for breaching regulations by pushing the guest aside with an open hand. However, stewards recognized significant mitigating circumstances, noting that Hadjar reacted to an aggressive invasion of personal space without sufficient security present while navigating a congested paddock to reach his session.