News295 stories
RSS ↗
via Motorsport.comIsack Hadjar earns "team-mate points" after "exceptional comeback" in Baku, says Alex BrundleIsack Hadjar received acclaim for his impressive comeback drive, finishing third at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after recovering from a wrist injury. His performance was highlighted by F1 TV pundit Alex Brundle, who noted Hadjar's ability to follow team orders and maintain pace, contributing to a strong result for Red Bull Racing alongside Max Verstappen.
Brundle and 1996 champion Damon Hill both commended Hadjar's resilience and the team's overall strength. With Hadjar and Verstappen now positioned sixth and eighth in the drivers' championship, Red Bull sits fourth in the constructors' standings, bolstered by points scored by Liam Lawson during Hadjar's absence.
Sat 26 Sep · 21:35 UTC
via PlanetF1‘Weird’ – Oscar Piastri baffled by race-wrecking Azerbaijan GP mistakeOscar Piastri experienced a significant setback during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix when he locked up at Turn 1, costing him a potential podium finish. Despite running in second place and receiving warnings about the approaching Red Bulls, Piastri's race took a turn for the worse after a Safety Car period. Following a restart, he lost his position to Max Verstappen and subsequently struggled to defend against Isack Hadjar, resulting in a drop to 15th place after the lock-up.
Piastri described the lock-up as 'weird', noting that both front tyres locked up unexpectedly. He expressed disappointment over the incident, stating it was painful not to have anything to show for his efforts. Although he acknowledged that he likely would not have been able to keep Hadjar behind, he wished he had at least been given the chance to try. Piastri currently sits seventh in the Drivers' Championship, significantly behind the leader.
Sat 26 Sep · 19:00 UTC
via f1oversteer.comIsack Hadjar team orders at Azerbaijan GP show Liam Lawson was right all along about Red BullAt the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Isack Hadjar and Max Verstappen secured Red Bull's first double podium in two and a half years. Hadjar demonstrated his commitment to team orders by allowing Verstappen to pass him early in the race, despite having a slight pace advantage. However, when Verstappen struggled to overtake Oscar Piastri, Hadjar's willingness to follow orders was put to the test as he later requested to race against his teammate.
The race highlighted the dynamics within Red Bull, where Verstappen's dominance often limits his teammates' opportunities to compete on equal terms. Hadjar's performance and subsequent contract renewal suggest he is prepared to embrace a supportive role in exchange for driving a competitive car. This situation echoes Liam Lawson's earlier comments about the challenges faced by Verstappen's teammates, who must adapt to the team's structure that prioritises Verstappen's success.
Sat 26 Sep · 19:00 UTC
via BBC SportRussell faultless while Hadjar excellent on return - driver ratingsGeorge Russell dominated the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, securing his third victory of the season by leading the race from start to finish. Max Verstappen finished closely behind in second place, while Isack Hadjar made a strong return from injury to claim third. Kimi Antonelli, Russell's Mercedes teammate, managed to recover from a poor qualifying position to finish fifth, but his championship lead was cut significantly.
Russell's performance was highlighted by a stunning qualifying lap that put him on pole by over eight tenths of a second. Despite pressure from Verstappen towards the end of the race, Russell maintained his lead. The race showcased impressive recoveries from several drivers, including Antonelli and Hadjar, while others faced challenges that affected their results.
Sat 26 Sep · 17:04 UTC
via f1oversteer.comAndrea Stella admits McLaren were partly responsible for Oscar Piastri lock-up at Azerbaijan GPAndrea Stella, team principal of McLaren, has admitted that the team shares responsibility for Oscar Piastri's lock-up incident during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Piastri was performing well and aiming for a podium finish when he made a critical error at turn one, which pushed him to the back of the pack. Lando Norris also struggled, finishing eighth after being involved in a collision caused by Franco Colapinto during a safety-car restart.
Stella highlighted that McLaren's lack of straight-line speed contributed to the pressure on both drivers, leading to mistakes. He noted that the team needs to learn from this experience and improve the car's performance, particularly on straights, to avoid similar issues in the future. Despite recent successes, the team faced a reality check in Azerbaijan, where their performance did not meet expectations.Sat 26 Sep · 17:00 UTC/Piastri%20post-race%20Madrid.webp)
via Formula1.comAzerbaijan mistake 'certainly took me by surprise' – PiastriOscar Piastri expressed surprise and disappointment after finishing 14th in the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where McLaren failed to score points. He initially performed well, overtaking Charles Leclerc and maintaining a strong position until a double lock-up during a restart caused him to lose several places.
Despite the disappointing outcome, Piastri noted that the first half of the race was encouraging and that he felt more comfortable with the car. He acknowledged the need to understand the lock-up incident and remained optimistic about the positives from the weekend, despite the lack of points or a trophy.
Sat 26 Sep · 16:58 UTC
via Formula1.comHadjar hails ‘first proper podium’ with P3 in BakuIsack Hadjar was all smiles after completing his comeback from a “very long six weeks” on the sidelines with a podium finish at the Baku City Circuit.+ 1 moreSat 26 Sep · 15:25 UTC
via Motorsport.comRed Bull defends Azerbaijan GP strategy amid criticismRed Bull Racing has defended its strategy during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, rejecting criticism regarding the lack of team orders. Former Formula 1 champion Jacques Villeneuve has supported Red Bull's approach, particularly in the closing stages of the race.+ 1 moreSat 26 Sep · 14:20 UTC
via f1oversteer.comJacques Villeneuve criticises Oscar Piastri's errorJacques Villeneuve has labelled Oscar Piastri's double lock-up during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix as a 'rookie mistake'. The incident caused Piastri to drop to the back of the field in Baku.+ 1 moreSat 26 Sep · 14:14 UTC
via f1oversteer.comJolyon Palmer mocks Isack Hadjar for being ‘the best guy in the world’ vs Max Verstappen in BakuDuring the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Jolyon Palmer mocked Isack Hadjar for being overly compliant with Max Verstappen, suggesting he should have fought harder for position. Both Red Bull drivers ended up on the podium, marking their first joint podium since the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix, with Hadjar praised for his pace after returning from injury.
Palmer highlighted Hadjar's reluctance to challenge Verstappen during the race, questioning whether the Red Bull team was hesitant to ask Verstappen to concede his position. Despite Palmer's criticism, both drivers performed well, with Verstappen narrowly missing out on victory after two safety car periods.Sat 26 Sep · 14:00 UTC
via RacingNews365Isack Hadjar's Azerbaijan podium under investigationIsack Hadjar's third-place finish at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix is now under scrutiny as the FIA investigates alleged practice-start infringements. Hadjar, who celebrated his second podium of the season, may face consequences following a summons from the race stewards.
+ 1 moreSat 26 Sep · 13:44 UTC
via RacingNews365Isack Hadjar cautious after podium finish in BakuIsack Hadjar expressed caution regarding his health following his third-place finish at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver, who recently returned from injury, revealed that his left wrist felt 'numb' after the race.+ 1 moreSat 26 Sep · 13:04 UTC
via f1technical.netRussell seals excellent weekend with Azerbaijani victoryGeorge Russell dominated the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, leading from the start to secure victory on 26 September 2026. Max Verstappen finished closely behind in second place, just 0.1 seconds off the pace, while Isack Hadjar, making his return to Formula 1, completed the podium in third. Russell's performance was marked by consistent pace and strategic tyre management, allowing him to maintain a significant lead throughout the race.
The race saw several incidents, including retirements from Lance Stroll and Pierre Gasly. Oscar Piastri, who initially held second place, struggled with tyre issues and ultimately dropped to 15th after a lockup. The event featured two safety car periods, which added to the drama, but Russell's late restart allowed him to fend off Verstappen's challenge, securing a well-deserved win.
Sat 26 Sep · 12:54 UTC
via PlanetF1George Russell wins Azerbaijan Grand Prix, narrows gapGeorge Russell secured a dominant victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, finishing just ahead of Max Verstappen. The win marks Russell's third of the season and reduces his deficit in the Drivers' Championship to 66 points.+ 10 more
via gpfans.comGeorge Russell wins 2026 Azerbaijan Grand PrixGeorge Russell secured victory at the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, driving for Mercedes. This win allowed him to reduce Andrea Kimi Antonelli's championship lead to 66 points.
+ 7 moreSat 26 Sep · 09:57 UTC38
via f1oversteer.comOscar Piastri admits what McLaren did to his car in Baku is ‘never a great sign’Oscar Piastri achieved his best qualifying result of the 2026 season by securing P3 for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, despite facing challenges throughout the weekend. He noted that McLaren had to use cable ties to hold his car together after experiencing issues with loose bargeboards, which he described as 'never a great sign.'
Piastri's performance improved significantly during qualifying after the team removed fuel from his car, allowing him to feel the full benefit of recent upgrades. However, reliability problems plagued McLaren during practice sessions, affecting both Piastri and teammate Lando Norris. Piastri aims to maintain his podium position in the race, although he acknowledges that George Russell and Mercedes are likely to be strong competitors.Sat 26 Sep · 08:00 UTC
via newsonf1.comHadjar admits he deliberately held back in BakuIsack Hadjar revealed that he intentionally held back during the Baku qualifying session, prioritising his recovery from a wrist injury. Despite this, he managed to secure a P4 position, finishing ahead of Max Verstappen, who encountered technical issues. Hadjar expressed that while the result was encouraging, it did not reflect his full potential as he aimed to avoid any mistakes that could jeopardise his recovery.
In his comments, Hadjar acknowledged that he felt Verstappen had outperformed him throughout the weekend. He noted that his absence from the previous races hindered his ability to compete for a front-row position. Hadjar reported that his wrist was coping well, and he completed extensive simulator laps to prepare for the race, indicating his confidence in fighting for a strong position if he starts from fourth.
via Motorsport.comOscar Piastri: I need a tow bar to hook onto Mercedes to fight for Baku winOscar Piastri qualified third for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, but he expressed doubts about his ability to compete with George Russell of Mercedes, who was significantly faster. Piastri's qualifying time was just 0.001 seconds behind Charles Leclerc, but he lagged 0.838 seconds behind Russell, prompting him to jokingly suggest he needed a tow bar to keep up.
Despite a challenging weekend for McLaren, including a brake issue that required unconventional fixes, Piastri was pleased with his qualifying result. He acknowledged that while Mercedes appeared to have a clear advantage, he believed McLaren could still contend with the other teams in the race, especially with Lando Norris starting fifth.Fri 25 Sep · 23:00 UTC
via f1chronicle.comIsack Hadjar praises Red Bull's progress in BakuIsack Hadjar has expressed satisfaction with the performance of Red Bull's RB22 during his return at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. After missing three races due to a wrist injury, Hadjar noted that the car feels better than when he last drove it.
via racer.comPiastri, Stella see signs of evolution in McLaren Baku turnaroundOscar Piastri achieved a commendable third-place qualifying position at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, showcasing his growing familiarity with the 2026 McLaren car. Despite a challenging practice session and engine issues for teammate Lando Norris, Piastri's performance marked a significant turnaround for the team, coming close to outqualifying Charles Leclerc.
Andrea Stella, McLaren's principal, highlighted Piastri's ability to adapt his driving style, which contributed to his success. However, he acknowledged ongoing struggles with straight-line speed compared to the Mercedes team, indicating that improvements are needed in the car's overall performance and aerodynamics.Page 1 of 15
