Isack Hadjar made an immediate impact on his return to the Red Bull cockpit at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, securing a brilliant third place on the streets of Baku after missing three races with a wrist injury.
The Frenchman's raw speed was evident—qualifying fourth and claiming his second podium of the season—but it was his composure and strategic teamwork alongside Max Verstappen that truly caught the eye. Red Bull Team Principal Laurent Mekies was quick to heap praise on the young driver.
“I think it was outstanding what Isack has produced this weekend, really outstanding,” Mekies told written media post-race. “The most important thing is that straight away he felt good in the car, no pain. We waited for him to come back at 100%, and that's what happened.”
Mekies highlighted how Hadjar built momentum session by session without overstepping the limit. “He has been building up his rhythm, session after session, very calmly, and with a lot of positive energy. Yesterday, sticking the car in P4 was a very strong result. Today, the race pace he showed on the medium and soft is something we hadn't seen before. So on his return weekend, he raised the bar again.”
Beyond his speed, Hadjar's mature radio communication during a tricky first stint drew special praise. Asked to give up his position to Verstappen, he complied without friction. When queried about his remaining pace, he calmly replied, “Two or three tenths, but I'm honestly happy to be here.”
Mekies noted that such discipline and emotional control made a decisive difference to the team's strategy. “He also raced extremely cleverly with Max, very disciplined with his tyres. It allowed us to have very strong teamwork between the two of them and between the pit wall. That ultimately produced the best result possible,” he explained.
This praise underscores that Red Bull sees Hadjar not just as a fast driver but as a long-term asset who continues to develop. His return in Baku signals that he is ready to play a key role in the team's ambitions for the rest of the season.
Baca Juga
Lando Norris minta maaf ke Franco Colapinto usai komentar kontroversial di GP Azerbaijan. Simak pernyataan resmi dan dampaknya jelang F1 Malaysia.
Lando Norris minta maaf kepada Franco Colapinto setelah menyerukan larangan balapan usai insiden di Grand Prix Azerbaijan. Alpine mengecam pelecehan online.
Lando Norris meminta maaf kepada Franco Colapinto setelah menyerukan larangan balap usai insiden di F1 Azerbaijan. Colapinto tetap kena penalti grid di Bahrain.
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