French-Algerian Formula 1 driver Isack Hadjar secured his third F1 podium at the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, finishing P3 in Baku. The result also marked his first race back after a wrist injury that kept him out for three consecutive Grands Prix.
From Red Bull Junior to F1 Podium Finisher
Hadjar joined the Red Bull Junior Team in 2022 before making his F1 practice debut in 2023 with AlphaTauri and Red Bull. After finishing runner-up in the 2024 F2 championship, he earned a full-time F1 seat with Racing Bulls for 2025.
His rookie season brought his first F1 podium at Zandvoort, and his performances earned him a promotion to Red Bull Racing for 2026, where he joined Max Verstappen. He has now added two more P3 finishes to his record, establishing himself as a regular podium contender in his second F1 season.
With Hadjar also confirmed to remain alongside Verstappen for the 2027 season, his Baku podium adds another chapter to a fast-moving F1 journey.
Three Podiums, Two With Red Bull
Hadjar’s latest result adds another milestone to a rapidly growing F1 career. His three podium finishes so far are:
- 2025 Dutch Grand Prix, Zandvoort: P3 with Racing Bulls (his maiden F1 podium).
- 2026 Monaco Grand Prix, Monaco: P3 with Red Bull Racing (his first podium with the senior Red Bull team).
- 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Baku: P3 with Red Bull Racing (his third career podium and latest comeback result).
A Podium Win on His First Appearance Since Injury
The Baku race was Hadjar’s first appearance since a wrist injury he suffered while training during the summer break. The injury forced him to miss the Dutch, Italian and Spanish Grands Prix before he returned to the cockpit in Azerbaijan.
Despite having to rebuild his rhythm during practice, Hadjar qualified fourth and started ahead of his Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen. He eventually moved into third late in the race after Oscar Piastri made a mistake at Turn 1, completing 51 laps without experiencing pain in his injured wrist.
Laurent Mekies Praises His Comeback
Red Bull Team Principal Laurent Mekies praised Hadjar’s performance, particularly the way he built his confidence throughout the weekend.
“I think it was outstanding what Isack has produced this weekend,” Mekies said.
He added that the priority had been making sure Hadjar was fully ready to return, noting that the driver felt good in the car and had no pain. Mekies also highlighted the challenge of returning at Baku, a street circuit with very little room for error, and praised Hadjar for calmly rebuilding his rhythm session by session.
For Hadjar, the Baku podium was more than another strong result. It marked a successful return from injury and another milestone in his fast-rising F1 career, adding a third podium to his record and his second of the 2026 season.
We Said This: Don’t Miss… Jaber AlSabah Makes History as First Kuwaiti to Win a Formula 4 Race