Minardi sees Hadjar as a genuine challenger to Verstappen
After Isack Hadjar’s podium return in Baku, former team principal Giancarlo Minardi says he could challenge Max Verstappen at Red Bull.
Former team principal Giancarlo Minardi believes Isack Hadjar is the first team-mate capable of genuinely challenging Max Verstappen. RacingNews365 reported his assessment on 29 September, after Hadjar finished third at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Hadjar reached the podium on his return from a wrist injury that had kept him out for three races. George Russell won in Baku, finishing just 0.196 seconds ahead of Verstappen after 51 laps.
Minardi said Hadjar had been told by Red Bull not to attack Verstappen late in the race. He suggested that Hadjar’s pace might otherwise have allowed him to fight for second place. That possible result is central to Minardi’s view of the competition Verstappen could face from his team-mate.
Minardi also thinks Red Bull is gradually recovering from a difficult start to the season.
Sources 01
- SOURCEVerstappen op scherp gezet: "Hij kan hem daadwerkelijk uitdagen"RacingNews365 · Source date as found: 2026-09-29
Source context
RacingNews365 Nederland’s report of 29 September 2026 carries Minardi’s comments on the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Claims and supporting evidence 6
This source finding must be read within the stated scope and source context. Azerbaijan Grand Prix race result as context for Minardi’s remarks 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix; reported on 29 September 2026 The result is taken from the retrieved article; no separate race classification was retrieved.
This source finding must be read within the stated scope and source context. Hadjar’s race result and return 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix and the preceding three races The retrieved article is the sole source for the placing, absence and injury.
This source finding must be read within the stated scope and source context. Identity and attribution of the assessment RacingNews365 article published 29 September 2026; original remarks undated in the retrieved article Only RacingNews365’s presentation of Minardi’s remarks was retrieved.
This source finding must be read within the stated scope and source context. Minardi’s assessment of Hadjar relative to Verstappen Assessment reported 29 September 2026 after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix The article supplies no independent basis for treating the ‘first teammate’ claim as an established fact.
This source finding must be read within the stated scope and source context. Reported team instruction and counterfactual race assessment Late in the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix; remarks reported 29 September 2026 The retrieved material contains Minardi’s account, not independently retrieved team communications. His estimate is conditional.
This source finding must be read within the stated scope and source context. Minardi’s assessment of Red Bull’s form 2026 season through the Azerbaijan Grand Prix No season-long performance analysis was retrieved.
Corrections and updates to this story
Een niet-onderbouwde interpretatie van Minardi’s persoonlijke beweegreden is verwijderd. Zijn weergegeven uitspraken blijven behouden.
This article was produced with AI assistance. Source references make its supporting evidence traceable.