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via RaceFansHadjar says Red Bull made clear performance gain with car during his absence | Formula 1Isack Hadjar expressed confidence in Red Bull's car performance upon his return from injury during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. He finished on the podium, indicating a strong comeback after missing three races due to a wrist injury.
Hadjar highlighted the specific characteristics of the Baku City Circuit, noting that he felt a significant improvement in the car's handling and balance right from the start of the first practice session. His positive feedback suggests that Red Bull has made notable advancements in their car's performance.
via RaceFansRussell and Verstappen enjoy thrilling Baku finaleGeorge Russell and Max Verstappen described the final laps of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix as exceptionally enjoyable and intense. Russell noted that the performance of the tyres contributed to the excitement during the closing stages of the race.
via Motorsport.comMercedes did not expect Monza repeat from AntonelliMercedes deputy team principal Bradley Lord stated that Kimi Antonelli was never expected to replicate his previous performance from Monza during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. George Russell secured victory at the Baku City Circuit, converting his pole position into a win for Mercedes.
via Motorsport.comWho slept worst last night: Lewis HamiltonLewis Hamilton has publicly backed Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur amidst speculation regarding Christian Horner's potential return to the team. Horner, the long-time Red Bull Racing principal, mentioned in an interview that he would consider returning to Formula 1, specifically for Ferrari, which has raised eyebrows given his history with Hamilton.
Vasseur has acknowledged that the ongoing speculation is creating a challenging atmosphere within the team. He emphasized the need for stability and serenity, suggesting that a reaffirmation of his position from Ferrari leadership could help quell the rumors. Meanwhile, Hamilton appears unfazed by the situation, focusing instead on the challenges ahead in the current season.
via Formula1.comWhat the teams said – Race day in AzerbaijanGeorge Russell of Mercedes won the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, marking his first victory since Austria. He started from pole position and maintained a strong lead until two Safety Cars brought Max Verstappen close behind him in the final laps. Despite the pressure, Russell managed to hold on for the win, even after clipping the wall and losing his Boost on the last lap.
Max Verstappen finished second after a strong race, while Isack Hadjar secured third place, marking a successful return from injury. Kimi Antonelli, who started from P16, managed to recover to fifth place. Both drivers and team principals expressed satisfaction with their performances, highlighting the challenges posed by the Safety Cars and the competitive nature of the race.
via espn.comNorris hits out after Baku pile-up DNF with AlpineLando Norris expressed his frustration after being taken out of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix due to a collision caused by Franco Colapinto. Following the incident, Norris stated that there are drivers who do not belong in Formula 1, implying that Colapinto's actions were unacceptable. The crash occurred during a Safety Car restart on lap 36, leading to both Norris and Pierre Gasly retiring from the race.
Colapinto acknowledged his mistake and accepted responsibility, apologising to his team and teammates. He received a 10-second time penalty, which will affect his grid position in the next race. Gasly, visibly upset, highlighted the significant points lost due to the incident, while also emphasising the importance of respect in their working relationship.
via RaceFansBottas reveals “big super-clip” led to last-lap crash: “The system got confused” | Formula 1Valtteri Bottas, driving for Cadillac, revealed that a technical issue caused his crash during the last lap of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. He explained that he had experienced a significant loss of control after going off at turn one earlier in the lap, leading to confusion in the car's systems.
Bottas stated that only the front brakes were functioning properly, which contributed to the incident at turn 15. The crash is currently being investigated by the stewards, and Cadillac team principal Marcin Budkowski acknowledged the situation surrounding Bottas's car.
via Motorsport.comKimi Antonelli reflects on Baku race performanceKimi Antonelli described his driving style during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix as akin to 'driving like my grandmother' after finishing fifth. Despite the comeback from sixteenth place, Antonelli's lead in the drivers' championship has been reduced to 66 points.
via RacingNews365Fred Vasseur rejects Christian Horner Ferrari speculationFerrari team principal Fred Vasseur has expressed frustration over ongoing speculation regarding Christian Horner potentially replacing him. Vasseur firmly stated that he is focused on his role at Ferrari and dismissed the rumours as unfounded.
via CrashFerrari's Maurizio Arrivabene dismisses Horner's impactMaurizio Arrivabene, former Ferrari team principal, stated that Christian Horner would not be the solution to the team's ongoing issues. This comment follows speculation about Horner potentially replacing Fred Vasseur amid Ferrari's struggles.
via F1iLando Norris apologises to Franco Colapinto after BakuLando Norris has apologised to Franco Colapinto for his post-race comments following the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where he called for Colapinto to be banned after a collision. Norris admitted it was wrong of him to make such remarks and reached out to the Alpine driver to express his regret.
via Motorsport.comLando Norris calls for race ban for Franco ColapintoLando Norris has demanded a one-race ban for Franco Colapinto following a collision that ended both their races at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The incident has sparked mixed reactions from fellow drivers, with some defending Colapinto's aggressive racing style.
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 racer.comPiastri's third in Baku signals McLaren's progressOscar Piastri secured third place in qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, indicating positive development for McLaren's performance. Team principal Andrea Stella noted that Piastri is adapting well to the MCL40, despite Lando Norris facing challenges during the session.
via Formula1.comOscar Piastri to start from second row in BakuOscar Piastri will begin the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix from the second row after a strong qualifying performance by McLaren. George Russell and Kimi Antonelli were also highlighted as notable performers in the qualifying session.
via Formula1.comLeclerc lacks confidence in Ferrari ahead of Baku raceCharles Leclerc expressed concerns about the unpredictability of his Ferrari car, which affected his confidence during qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Despite securing a front-row grid slot, Leclerc noted the significant gap to pole position and felt unable to drive with his usual commitment.
via Motorsport.comIsack Hadjar bullish: If I hadn't missed three races, I'd be second on the gridIsack Hadjar, driving for Red Bull Racing, qualified fourth for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix but expressed confidence that he could have secured second place if he had not missed the previous three races due to a wrist injury. His qualifying time was just 0.137 seconds slower than Charles Leclerc, who took second, while Hadjar outperformed Max Verstappen, who qualified eighth.
Hadjar described his approach during the comeback as cautious, aiming to avoid risks while gradually building confidence. He acknowledged improvements in his car's handling since his last race in Hungary, but admitted that Mercedes still had a significant speed advantage, particularly in straight-line performance. This qualifying result marks Hadjar's best performance since the season opener in Melbourne.
via F1iKimi Antonelli criticises his Baku qualifying errorKimi Antonelli described his early exit from qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix as a 'very stupid' mistake. The incident has left him starting towards the back of the grid for the race.
via RacingNews365George Russell secures pole by biggest career marginGeorge Russell expressed his shock after achieving pole position by the largest margin of his career during qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Charles Leclerc noted that this gap is the biggest between the pole-sitter and the second-place starter this season.
via newsonf1.comBriatore rules out Ferrari moveFlavio Briatore has firmly ruled out the possibility of taking charge at Ferrari, stating that it is too late for him to consider such a role. Currently leading Alpine, he expressed respect for Fred Vasseur's efforts at Ferrari amidst ongoing speculation about Vasseur's future. Briatore also commented on the challenges of managing Ferrari's driver pairing, which he described as quarrelsome.
In addition to his comments on Ferrari, Briatore addressed the future of Alpine, asserting that Renault has no plans to sell the team. He revealed that there are at least seven investors interested in purchasing a minority stake in Alpine. Briatore also noted that the commercial value of Alpine reflects the overall growth in Formula 1, while playfully dismissing his previous retirement claims.Page 2 of 6