Overview

• Isack Hadjar secured his first F1 podium with third at the Dutch Grand Prix in his 14th start after qualifying fourth and later inheriting the spot when Lando Norris retired.
• Racing Bulls CEO Peter Bayer and Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies rejected claims of team orders, stating Hadjar could have attacked Max Verstappen if he had the pace and noting such restrictions would be illegal.
• Mekies and advisor Helmut Marko praised Hadjar and confirmed he is under consideration for a Red Bull promotion while stressing a multi-race evaluation with nine rounds remaining and continued scrutiny of Yuki Tsunoda’s form.
• Racing Bulls overcame Friday setbacks including sensor and battery anomalies, an engine change between sessions, and an overnight rebuild before Hadjar ran near Verstappen’s pace throughout the race.
• Rivals, led by Verstappen, hailed the drive as fully deserved; the result marked Racing Bulls’ first podium since 2021 and made the 20-year-old the youngest French driver to reach an F1 podium.