Hadjar's Comeback Podium: From Wrist Injury to P3 in Baku
Isack Hadjar missed three rounds with a wrist injury, then returned to finish third in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, completing Red Bull's first double podium since 2024.
Key takeaway
Isack Hadjar finished third in the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix on his first race back after a wrist injury that kept him out of the Dutch, Italian and Spanish (Madrid) Grands Prix. Alongside Max Verstappen's second place, it gave Red Bull its first double podium since 2024.
Three missed races, a summer spent working on an injured wrist, and a comeback at one of the most unforgiving tracks on the calendar. Isack Hadjar could easily have treated Baku as a gentle return. Instead he finished on the podium.
The absence
Hadjar hurt his wrist training over the summer. He missed Zandvoort, Monza and the new Madring race in Madrid, and Liam Lawson took his Red Bull seat while he recovered. For a driver in his first season with the senior team, losing three race weekends of mileage mid-season was a real setback.
The return
Baku’s walls leave no room for rust. Hadjar stayed out of trouble through two safety-car restarts, including the multi-car incident that took out Norris, Gasly and Colapinto, and brought the car home third, 10.704s behind the winner. With Max Verstappen second, it was Red Bull’s first double podium since 2024.
The bigger picture
Hadjar’s first F1 podium came at Zandvoort in 2025, with Racing Bulls, and it helped earn him the step up to Red Bull. Baku was a different sort of achievement: a strong result straight after a long break, driving next to Verstappen. He sits eighth in the championship on 86 points despite missing three rounds.
What to watch next
- Sepang and Singapore: two very different tests of stamina and precision, and a chance to show Baku wasn’t a one-off.
- Qualifying pace against Verstappen: the clearest sign of how quickly he’s back up to speed.
- Red Bull’s constructors’ position: Red Bull are fourth on 263, 43 behind McLaren. Points from both cars could close that gap.
Read the full Azerbaijan Grand Prix recap.
FAQ
Why did Isack Hadjar miss races in 2026?
Hadjar injured his wrist while training over the summer break and missed the Dutch, Italian and Spanish (Madrid) Grands Prix. Liam Lawson stood in at Red Bull.
Where did Isack Hadjar finish in Baku 2026?
Third, 10.704 seconds behind race winner George Russell, on his comeback from injury.