Isack Hadjar made a storming return to the Red Bull cockpit at the Azerbaijan GP, clinching P3 on the streets of Baku following a three-race absence due to a wrist injury.
While the Frenchman’s raw pace stood out—qualifying fourth before scoring his second podium of the year—it was his composure and strategic teamwork alongside Max Verstappen that most impressed Red Bull Team Principal Laurent Mekies.
Speaking post-race to written media, Mekies was full of praise for the young driver’s seamless return.
“I think it was outstanding what Isack has produced this weekend, really outstanding,” Mekies said.
“At first, the most important thing is that straight away he felt good in the car, no pain.
“It means that every time we met together in the last few weeks and we said we will wait for Isack to come back at 100% because that’s the priority, well, that’s what happened.
“He was in the car, he didn’t have any pain. Nonetheless, even without pain, this is not an easy track to come back to because there is no margin for error.”
Mekies highlighted how Hadjar carefully built momentum across each session without overstepping the limit.
“He has been building up his rhythm, session after session, very calmly, and with a lot of positive energy,” Mekies added.
“Already yesterday, to stick the car in P4 was a very, very strong result. I think today, the sort of race pace that he has shown on the medium and on the soft, is something we had not seen before.
“So on the weekend of his return, he has raised the bar again.
“We say to each other very often that we have seen him adding something to the business every time he was going out on track in the first part of the season, and he is continuing to do that.”
Red Bull notes Hadjar maturity
Beyond his outright speed, Hadjar’s mature communication over team radio during a tricky first stint drew special praise.
Asked to give up his position to Verstappen, Hadjar complied without friction. When asked how much pace he had in reserve, Hadjar offered a surprisingly calm response: “Two or three tenths, but I’m honestly happy to be here.”
Mekies noted that this discipline and emotional control made a decisive difference to the team’s overall strategy.
“And on top of that, allow me to say that he also raced extremely cleverly with Max, very disciplined with his tyres,” Mekies explained.
“It allowed us to have very, very strong teamwork between the two of them and between the pitwall. That has ultimately produced the best result possible.”
When asked specifically about Hadjar’s measured radio message, Mekies pointed to it as clear proof of the rookie’s rapid growth.
“I think you are pinpointing exactly on the right details that make you understand a lot more about the right pictures,” Mekies said.
“It shows you how cleverly the kid is racing, and how much of brain capacity he is developing while in the car, and also how much emotional control he is managing to have.
“Those are as many indicators of the steps he has made in all these areas, on top of producing more speed.
“So it’s exactly that trajectory that has been impressing us every day since he has joined the team, and probably last year as well. And also for that, we want to give him the best possible environment to continue to develop because that step was truly impressive.”
Mekies added that Red Bull’s decision to extend Hadjar’s contract into 2027 was designed to relieve external pressure—a faith the young driver repaid instantly on the Baku City Circuit.
“I think Isack repaid our faith today!” Mekies concluded.
READ MORE – Motorsport Week’s 2026 F1 Azerbaijan GP Driver Ratings
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