Villeneuve backs Red Bull’s Azerbaijan team-orders decision
Red Bull kept Max Verstappen ahead of Isack Hadjar in Azerbaijan despite Hadjar’s tyre advantage. Jacques Villeneuve says the team made the right call.
Red Bull did not instruct Max Verstappen to let Isack Hadjar through during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on 26 September, despite Hadjar’s tyre advantage. Verstappen chased George Russell to the finish, taking second place just 0.196 seconds behind the Mercedes winner. Hadjar finished third.
Jacques Villeneuve, the 1997 Formula 1 champion, praised Red Bull’s decision on Sky Sports F1. He called it “perfect” and argued that Verstappen had the better chance of making up ground. Both RacingNews365 Nederland and Motorsport.com carried his comments from the broadcast.
Motorsport.com also reported Red Bull team chief Laurent Mekies’s explanation that the team considered a swap but judged holding position its best chance of challenging Russell and Oscar Piastri. RacingNews365 Nederland instead added Sky analyst Jamie Chadwick’s praise for Hadjar’s composure.
Sources 03
- SOURCEVilleneuve neemt hoed af voor Red Bull: "Dit was perfect!"RacingNews365 Nederland · Source date as found: 2026-09-27
- SOURCEJacques Villeneuve defends Red Bull team orders call at F1 Azerbaijan GPMotorsport.com · Source date as found: 2026-09-26
- SOURCEFORMULA 1 QATAR AIRWAYS AZERBAIJAN GRAND PRIX 2026 - RACE RESULTFormula 1 · Source date as found: 2026-09-26
This article was produced with AI assistance. Source references make its supporting evidence traceable.
Source context
Both publishers relay Villeneuve’s remarks from Sky Sports F1, rather than separate interviews. Formula 1 supplies the race classification.