Red Bull’s strategic decisions at the recent Azerbaijan Grand Prix drew significant attention. The team opted to maintain Max Verstappen ahead of teammate Isack Hadjar during a critical phase of the race. This occurred despite Hadjar running on softer, potentially faster tyres at the time.
Hadjar communicated his pace advantage over team radio, noting Verstappen’s struggles with his medium compound tyres. However, Red Bull instructed Hadjar not to attack Verstappen, a message reportedly not broadcast during the race.
Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies later explained the rationale behind the decision. He stated the team held position, hoping for a safety car intervention to neutralise the race. Mekies defended the strategy, believing it offered the best chance against competitors like Oscar Piastri and George Russell.
Former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya expressed surprise at Red Bull’s choice not to allow Hadjar to pass Verstappen. He questioned the team’s decision-making in that specific race scenario. Jacques Villeneuve, however, defended Red Bull’s stance on not issuing team orders.
Separately, Sky Sports F1 reporter Ted Kravitz voiced strong criticism regarding a different stewards’ decision during the same Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Kravitz was baffled by the lack of penalty for Racing Bulls driver Arvid Lindblad. Lindblad had spun teammate Liam Lawson in a Turn 1 collision.
Kravitz described the incident as a clear ‘causing a collision penalty’ for any other driver in similar circumstances. He questioned how Lindblad escaped punishment, stating he did not understand the verdict.
The FIA stewards, however, deemed the Racing Bulls clash a ‘typical first-corner incident’ following a restart. They concluded that no driver was predominantly to blame, citing restricted space and a chain reaction from an incident ahead.
Max Verstappen ultimately finished second in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Teammate Isack Hadjar secured third place, marking his second podium of the 2026 season. Hadjar had returned from a wrist injury, missing three prior races.
The FIA also investigated Hadjar for failing to follow race director instructions on reconnaissance laps before the start of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Carlos Sainz faced a similar investigation for the same pre-race infringement.
