Formula 1 News: Red Bull told Hadjar to hold station, knowing Verstappen would bury him later

At the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Red Bull issued an unbroadcast team order telling Isack Hadjar to hold position behind Max Verstappen, despite Hadjar being faster during a significant portion of the first stint. Hadjar, returning from a wrist injury that had sidelined him for three races, had qualified fourth and was running on soft tires that outlasted Verstappen's mediums, with the gap between the two Red Bulls shrinking as Verstappen's tires faded. Red Bull's strategy prioritized Verstappen's race from the outset, with engineer Richard Wood telling Hadjar 'race time is priority here' as early as lap 7.