Red Bull points to energy management after Azerbaijan double podium

Max Verstappen finished second in the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix after starting eighth following a troubled final qualifying session. His Red Bull team-mate Isack Hadjar took third, giving the team its first double podium in almost two and a half years.

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies, quoted by Autosport, pointed partly to the way the team managed its power unit. He said it works best within a narrow operating range, making energy deployment important on Baku’s long straights. Mekies said a new engine helped Verstappen return to the pace Red Bull had expected for the race; he believed the Dutchman could have challenged for the front row without the qualifying issue.

Straight-line speed was also evident at sister team Racing Bulls, which uses the same engines: Liam Lawson recorded 349.4 km/h at the race speed trap. Verstappen and Hadjar were both among the ten fastest drivers recorded there.

Mekies also credited improvements made over recent races and suggested upgrades in Baku had provided a further edge. He said Red Bull would have to see whether that gain carried over to other circuits.