Key Highlights
- Jacques Villeneuve defended Red Bull’s decision not to swap Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar during the closing stages of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
- Verstappen used his tyre advantage late in the race to challenge winner George Russell and finished second, 0.196 seconds behind.
- Hadjar, returning after a six-week absence with a wrist injury, completed the podium in third place.
Jacques Villeneuve backs Red Bull’s Azerbaijan GP strategy
1997 Formula 1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve has endorsed Red Bull Racing’s decision to maintain its driver order during the closing stages of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix at Baku City Circuit.
Max Verstappen and Red Bull team-mate Isack Hadjar were running one behind the other as the race reached its final laps. Although Hadjar had the tyre advantage, the Milton Keynes-based team chose not to instruct Verstappen to surrender track position and allow the French-Algerian driver to attack the cars ahead.
Verstappen subsequently pulled clear of Hadjar and mounted a late challenge to Mercedes driver George Russell. The Red Bull driver finished second, just 0.196 seconds behind Russell, while Hadjar secured third place after returning from a six-week absence caused by a wrist injury.
Villeneuve says Verstappen gave Red Bull its best opportunity
Speaking during the Sky Sports F1 broadcast, Villeneuve rejected the suggestion that Red Bull should have swapped its drivers. He praised the Laurent Mekies-led team for assessing the race situation and retaining Verstappen in front of Hadjar.
“It was perfect,” the Canadian said. “There was no reason to ask Max to let Isack by.
“Hadjar was on the better tyre and the lap time was similar to Max. So at one point they would swap over the tyre and, as we’ve seen, Max built an eight-second gap on Hadjar [in the final laps].
“Max had a better chance of getting to the front so they did the right thing.”
The strategy allowed Verstappen to use the late-race conditions to close on Russell, while Hadjar remained in position to deliver a double Red Bull podium. The result also reflected the contrasting tyre circumstances affecting the two drivers in the closing stages.
Laurent Mekies explains Red Bull’s team-order decision
Red Bull team chief Laurent Mekies confirmed that the team had considered multiple scenarios before deciding to keep Verstappen and Hadjar in their existing positions.
“We looked at all these scenarios, honestly, and then we elected to hold the car in those positions,” the team chief told Sky Sports F1.
“Both drivers have been very good at being disciplined with that. Big well done also to Isack who has raced very cleverly to make sure we get the best team result.
“We felt it was the best chance to get a chance at Piastri and at Russell. It’s very difficult here not to count on a safety car at some stage. We were all waiting for the safety car.
“Max was struggling with the medium at that stage and we knew that on the soft we would have a better chance. Ultimately, that’s what happened.
“We are missing one tenth but we got a chance to fight with him and show we had the same pace.”
Why This Matters
Red Bull’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix strategy highlights the importance of track position, tyre timing and driver discipline on the Baku City Circuit. Despite Hadjar having the stronger tyre position at the time, Red Bull judged that Verstappen offered the better chance of challenging the cars ahead. Verstappen’s eventual eight-second advantage over Hadjar in the final laps supported that assessment, while both drivers finished on the podium.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Red Bull not ask Max Verstappen to let Isack Hadjar past?
Red Bull believed Verstappen had the better chance of reaching the front and challenging George Russell. The team also expected the tyre advantage to change as the final laps progressed.
How did Max Verstappen finish in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix?
Max Verstappen finished second for Red Bull Racing, 0.196 seconds behind race winner George Russell of Mercedes.
What was Isack Hadjar’s result?
Isack Hadjar finished third. He had been out of action for six weeks with a wrist injury and completed the podium behind Russell and Verstappen.