Red Bull points to energy management after Azerbaijan double podium
Max Verstappen rose from eighth to second in Azerbaijan, with Isack Hadjar third. Red Bull’s team principal pointed to power-unit management and car improvements.
What has changed? · 05/10/2026, 21:44 UTC
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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 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]
Mekies also credited improvements made over recent races and suggested upgrades in Baku had provided a further edge. He said Red Bull would have to see whether that gain carried over to other circuits. [1]
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