Antonelli-Hadjar Collision Sparks Brief Clash in Shanghai Sprint

In Shanghai, during the sprint race of the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix on March 14, Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli collided with Red Bull's Isack Hadjar at Turn 6 on the opening lap, damaging the French driver's car and sparking a brief post-race confrontation that was later resolved.

Antonelli, starting second on the grid alongside polesitter and teammate George Russell, suffered a sluggish launch that dropped him into the midfield. As he pushed to regain positions, the 19-year-old Italian understeered into Hadjar's RB22, clipping the sidepod and floor with his front left wheel. The impact scattered carbon fiber debris and compromised Hadjar's aerodynamics, hindering his progress after he had climbed from 10th to eighth at the start. Stewards quickly ruled Antonelli at fault, imposing a 10-second time penalty that he served during a safety car period, dropping him to fifth place. Hadjar, meanwhile, finished 15th, his race pace affected by the damage.

Moments after the chequered flag, with Russell securing victory ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, Antonelli approached Hadjar in parc fermé to apologize. Still seated in his cockpit, Hadjar waved off the gesture...