The One Detail That Impresses Red Bull Most About Isack Hadjar’s “outstanding” F1 Return

Isack Hadjar delivers standout Red Bull return in Baku

Isack Hadjar made an impressive return to Formula 1 competition at the Baku City Circuit after missing three race weekends because of a wrist injury. The Red Bull RB22 driver came back at one of the calendar’s most demanding venues, where the narrow street circuit combines a high risk of crashes with technically difficult sections around Baku’s old town.

Hadjar had already indicated after practice that his wrist would not restrict him, and he steadily built confidence throughout the weekend. He qualified fourth beside the Caspian Sea before producing a faultless race to secure his second podium of the season and the third Formula 1 podium of his career.

Red Bull team principal Mekies said Hadjar’s performance was particularly notable because of the circumstances surrounding his comeback. “I think it was outstanding what Isack has produced this weekend, really outstanding,” Red Bull’s team principal 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.”

Red Bull impressed by Hadjar’s pace and consistency

Hadjar approached the Baku weekend cautiously, increasing his pace session by session rather than immediately taking unnecessary risks. Mekies said that progression was central to the quality of the result, especially given the limited margin for error at the Azerbaijan street circuit.

“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.”

The result showed that Hadjar’s progress was not limited to outright speed. His performance on both the medium and soft Pirelli tyres gave Red Bull a race pace level it had not previously seen from him, while his controlled approach allowed the team to maximise its overall strategy.

Hadjar’s radio discipline strengthened Red Bull’s strategy

Red Bull was also encouraged by Hadjar’s conduct during the opening stint. The team asked the young Frenchman to surrender his position to Max Verstappen, the four-time world champion, but Hadjar remained composed when Verstappen encountered difficulties with the medium tyre.

“And on top of that, allow me to say that he also raced extremely cleverly with Max, very disciplined with his tyres,” Mekies said. “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.”

Hadjar had often appeared more hot-headed on team radio during his junior-category career and his first Formula 1 season. In Baku, however, his communication reflected greater control. After several laps, he asked whether he was free to attack, and Red Bull instructed him to keep the situation clean.

Earlier, when the team asked how much quicker he could be in clean air, Hadjar replied: “Two or three tenths, but I’m honestly happy to be here.” The response showed that he did not require his position to be immediately restored, allowing both Red Bull drivers to maintain stronger race times and improving the team’s overall result potential.

Mekies highlights Hadjar’s mental development

When Motorsport.com asked Mekies about that exchange, the Red Bull team principal identified it as one of the clearest examples of Hadjar’s development inside the car.

“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.”

Red Bull’s effort to provide that environment includes Hadjar’s contract extension for 2027. Mekies acknowledged that the team deliberately confirmed the extension at a time intended to remove pressure from Hadjar’s shoulders. After the media session, he summed up the Baku performance by saying: “I think Isack repaid our faith today!”

Why This Matters

Hadjar’s Baku result was significant because it combined a strong return from injury with measurable progress in pace, tyre management and race communication. His fourth-place qualifying position and podium finish at a technically demanding street circuit demonstrated that he could perform immediately after a prolonged absence.

For Red Bull, Hadjar’s ability to work within the team’s strategy alongside Max Verstappen was as important as the final result. The 2027 contract extension gives the team a longer-term framework for developing a driver whom Mekies believes is improving across multiple areas of Formula 1 performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was Isack Hadjar’s return in Baku considered difficult?

Hadjar returned after missing three race weekends with a wrist injury at the Baku City Circuit, a street track with a high risk of crashes, technical sections and little margin for error.

What did Isack Hadjar achieve in Baku?

Hadjar qualified fourth and finished on the podium, earning his second podium of the season and the third Formula 1 podium of his career.

Why did Red Bull praise Hadjar’s radio communication?

Hadjar stayed calm while following Red Bull’s request to give up his position to Max Verstappen. His tyre discipline and measured response helped the team maximise the performance of both drivers.