Villeneuve backs Red Bull’s Azerbaijan team-orders decision
Red Bull kept Max Verstappen ahead of Isack Hadjar in Azerbaijan despite Hadjar’s tyre advantage. Jacques Villeneuve says the team made the right call.
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Red Bull did not instruct Max Verstappen to let Isack Hadjar through during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on 26 September, despite Hadjar’s tyre advantage. Verstappen chased George Russell to the finish, taking second place just 0.196 seconds behind the Mercedes winner. Hadjar finished third. [2] [3]
Jacques Villeneuve, the 1997 Formula 1 champion, praised Red Bull’s decision on Sky Sports F1. He called it “perfect” and argued that Verstappen had the better chance of making up ground. Both RacingNews365 Nederland and Motorsport.com carried his comments from the broadcast. [1] [2]
Motorsport.com also reported Red Bull team chief Laurent Mekies’s explanation that the team considered a swap but judged holding position its best chance of challenging Russell and Oscar Piastri. RacingNews365 Nederland instead added Sky analyst Jamie Chadwick’s praise for Hadjar’s composure. [1] [2]
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