Isack Hadjar did not choose an easy circuit for his comeback after a wrist injury. The Baku City Circuit, with its narrow walls and technical corners in the old town, is a tough test. But the young Frenchman delivered a stunning performance to claim his second podium of the season.
Red Bull Racing team principal Laurent Mekies called the Azerbaijan Grand Prix Hadjar's best race so far. "I think it was outstanding what Isack produced this weekend, really outstanding," Mekies told the media after the race. "The most important thing is that straight away he felt good in the car, no pain. It means that every time we met in the last few weeks and said we will wait for Isack to come back at 100%, that's what happened."
Hadjar was flawless. After missing three races, he qualified fourth and finished third, adding to his podium tally in F1. Mekies stressed that even without pain, Baku is not an easy track to return to. "He has been building up his rhythm, session after session, very calmly and with a lot of positive energy. Yesterday, to stick the car in P4 was a very strong result. Today, the race pace he showed on the medium and soft is something we had not seen before."
What also impressed Red Bull was Hadjar's radio communication and teamwork with Max Verstappen. When the team asked him to give up his position to Verstappen, Hadjar remained calm even as the four-time world champion struggled with the medium tyre. "He also raced extremely cleverly with Max, very disciplined with his tyres," Mekies said. "It allowed us to have very strong teamwork between the two of them."
Hadjar himself was well aware of the risks at Baku. "I had to build confidence step by step," he said. "But after practice, I was sure my wrist would not be a limiting factor." That confidence paid off. He was not only fast but also mature in his decisions.
With this performance, Hadjar showed that he is not just a fast driver but also someone who can be relied upon under pressure. Red Bull is increasingly confident that their investment in the young driver will pay off. Hadjar's return in Baku is a signal that he is ready to compete at the highest level.
Going forward, the challenge for Hadjar is to maintain consistency. If he can keep up this level of performance, he could become key to Red Bull's constructors' title challenge. One thing is certain: his comeback in Baku left a deep impression on the team.
Baca Juga
Isack Hadjar kembali ke F1 di GP Azerbaijan dan langsung impresif. Red Bull terkesan dengan kecepatan, komunikasi radio, dan kerja samanya dengan Verstappen.
Ranking pembalap F1 GP Azerbaijan 2026: George Russell tampil terbaik, Verstappen kedua, Sainz DNF. Simak analisis lengkapnya di sini.
Oscar Piastri gagal finis di zona poin setelah blunder di Tikungan 1 GP Azerbaijan. Peluang podium McLaren sirna, begini komentarnya.
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