Verstappen endured a closely contested race, spending much of the afternoon chasing George Russell. The Mercedes driver maintained control at the front, although Red Bull significantly reduced the gap in the closing stages. Verstappen eventually crossed the finish line just 0.196 seconds behind the race winner.Second place added another strong result to Verstappen’s record at the Baku City Circuit. The Dutchman had previously won the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in 2022 and 2025, while he finished second in 2023. His latest podium now adds another runner-up finish to his record in Baku.
Hadjar Returns to the Podium
The standout result for Red Bull came from Isack Hadjar. The French driver finished third, securing another podium result in Baku. Starting from fourth on the grid, Hadjar delivered a composed and consistent performance to remain ahead of several challengers for the final podium position.The result was particularly significant for Red Bull, as the team placed both of its cars inside the top three. Hadjar’s performance also added another notable result to Red Bull’s long-standing record at one of the most unpredictable circuits on the Formula 1 calendar.
Nine Podiums for Red Bull in Baku
Red Bull’s history in Baku now spans ten races, including the inaugural 2016 event, which was held as the European Grand Prix. The Azerbaijan Grand Prix was not held in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, meaning that the ten-year history of the Baku event does not represent ten consecutive races.Across those races, Red Bull has placed at least one driver on the podium on nine occasions:
2017 — Daniel Ricciardo, 1st
2021 — Sergio Perez, 1st
2022 — Max Verstappen, 1st; Sergio Perez, 2nd
2023 — Sergio Perez, 1st; Max Verstappen, 2nd
2025 — Max Verstappen, 1st
2026 — Max Verstappen, 2nd; Isack Hadjar, 3rd
Overall, Red Bull has recorded nine podium finishes in Baku: five victories, three second-place finishes and one third-place finish.The team failed to reach the podium in 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2024. Since 2021, however, Red Bull has consistently placed at least one driver on the podium at every Azerbaijan Grand Prix that has taken place.
Baku Remains a Strong Venue for Red Bull
Nine podiums across ten races underline Red Bull’s strong record at the Baku City Circuit. The team has claimed victories in Azerbaijan with Daniel Ricciardo, Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen, while Isack Hadjar has now added his name to Red Bull’s list of podium finishers in Baku.In 2026, Red Bull was unable to take the victory, with George Russell holding on to first place until the chequered flag. Nevertheless, the team secured a double podium, allowing Red Bull to once again leave Baku with both cars inside the top three.For Verstappen, the result represents another podium at a circuit where he has already taken two victories. For Hadjar, it marks another significant milestone in his Formula 1 career. For Red Bull, meanwhile, it adds another chapter to the team’s impressive record on the streets of Baku.
