Red Bull points to energy management after Azerbaijan double podium

Max Verstappen finished second in the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix after starting eighth following a troubled final qualifying session. His Red Bull team-mate Isack Hadjar took third, giving the team its first double podium in almost two and a half years. [1]

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies, quoted by Autosport, pointed partly to the way the team managed its power unit. He said it works best within a narrow operating range, making energy deployment important on Baku’s long straights. Mekies said a new engine helped Verstappen return to the pace Red Bull had expected for the race; he believed the Dutchman could have challenged for the front row or better without the qualifying issue. [1]

Straight-line speed was also evident at sister team Racing Bulls, which uses the same engines: Liam Lawson recorded 349.4 km/h at the race speed trap. Verstappen and Hadjar were both among the ten fastest drivers recorded there. [1]