Red Bull Powers to First Double Podium in Years at Azerbaijan GP

Red Bull secured its first double Formula 1 podium in nearly two and a half years at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, with Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar finishing second and third respectively. Verstappen had previously qualified eighth after an internal combustion engine issue hampered his Q3 session. After resolving the problem with a new engine for the race, both drivers demonstrated strong pace to charge through the field.

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies explained that while the team possesses the most powerful internal combustion engine on the grid, it operates within a narrow performance window that requires precise energy management and deployment. Sister team Racing Bulls, running the same power unit, topped the race speed trap with Liam Lawson reaching 349.4km/h, while both Verstappen and Hadjar ranked in the top 10 for maximum speeds. Mekies noted that Verstappen was competitive from Friday onwards and could have fought for the front row without the qualifying engine troubles.

Looking ahead, Verstappen felt Baku represented Red Bull's best chance for a victory in 2026 before Mercedes introduces a major upgrade package at the next race. Although Red Bull has admitted it will not deliver another major update package this season, Mekies expressed optimism that the team can still capture opportunities and avoid its first winless F1 campaign since 2015.