Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar secured Red Bull Racing's first double podium in nearly two and a half years at the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, a result that underscored the team's potent power unit despite a qualifying setback. The achievement marked a significant turnaround for a team that had been considered to have only the fourth-fastest car for much of the season.
On Saturday, Max Verstappen faced an internal combustion engine issue that hampered his qualifying, leaving him eighth on the grid. However, the team swiftly replaced the engine before the race, a decision that paid off handsomely. Both Verstappen and Hadjar carved through the field to finish second and third, demonstrating the RB22's competitiveness at the Baku City Circuit.
Team boss Laurent Mekies attributed the speed to the power unit's exceptional performance, though he noted it must be operated within a narrow window. "We have a fantastic PU, but we have a fairly narrow band to use it at its best. It takes a lot of energy from everyone back in Milton Keynes and on the race track to keep us in that window," he said. Mekies added that each track presents unique challenges in energy management, deployment, and power delivery, keeping the team busy.
Speed trap data highlighted Red Bull's straight-line dominance. Liam Lawson, driving for sister team Racing Bulls with the same engine, recorded the highest speed at 349.4 km/h, while both Verstappen and Hadjar were among the top ten fastest. This gave them the tools to overtake rivals on Baku's long straights. Mekies acknowledged that without the qualifying issues, an even better result might have been possible. "We had two different issues with the power units. It cost us a lot yesterday. But that's part of the game. Max was very strong from Friday onwards and probably would have fought for the front row or more without the PU problems. Fixing that today with the new engine allowed us to return to the competitive level we expected."
For Red Bull Racing, this double podium provides a morale boost in a season dominated by Mercedes. Verstappen himself viewed Baku as the team's best—and potentially last—chance for a win in 2026, with Mercedes expected to remain strong. Although victory eluded them, the Azerbaijan result proved Red Bull still possesses the firepower to challenge on power-sensitive tracks.
With a formidable power unit and precise energy management, Red Bull showed they are not to be underestimated. The double podium also silenced doubts after the car was deemed only fourth-fastest in earlier races. Now, the question is whether they can maintain this consistency at upcoming circuits that may not suit their car as well as Baku.
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