Red Bull confirms it would have ordered Verstappen to hand position back to Hadjar

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has confirmed Max Verstappen would have been told to return second to Isack Hadjar at the São Paulo Grand Prix if they had stayed close. The admission follows a mid-race swap that freed Verstappen to chase Lando Norris and reveals a more flexible team-order approach.

Why it matters:

Red Bull has usually used team orders for Verstappen, not his teammate. Reversing the swap to protect Hadjar’s race is notable, especially after Verstappen refused to let Sergio Perez through at Interlagos in 2022.

The details:

• Hadjar started fifth and was asked on lap 38 to let Verstappen through as he charged from P21 after a power unit penalty.
• Red Bull wanted Verstappen to chase Norris, who led by over nine seconds, but Hadjar stayed within a second and asked about a reversal.
• Mekies said Red Bull “would have done it” if they had stayed close, citing Hadjar’s pace, but rain and strategies left them too far apart.
• Hadjar complied in Brazil, unlike Austin, where he initially resisted before being told to move aside.
• Verstappen finished second, Hadjar third, giving Red Bull a double podium.

What's next:

Mekies praised how the pair “worked very, very strongly together,” but the episode keeps Red Bull’s team-order policy in focus. If Hadjar keeps matching Verstappen, future races may force clearer calls.