NOT SWAPPING Verstappen-Hadjar was correct | NERVOUS but in control George Russell | Baku F1 classic

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[00:00:30] A late night episode on the Inside Line F1 Podcast because we have to dissect the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which was a snooze fest or not, is what we need your help in deciding. Make sure you comment live on the Inside Line F1 Podcast. Welcome along everyone, because we want to chat with you and we want to discuss this race with you. Samuel Arora here. I commentate on the Hindi F1 broadcast for FanCode just like Kunal Shah does as well.

[00:00:56] Today Kunal was in the Wireplay studio analysing the race. I was commentating live and I'm genuinely conflicted Kunal because on paper, if anyone looks back at this race, it's going to show second closest finish in Formula 1 history, a tent separating the top two, another photo finish between Arvid Lindblad and Esteban Ocon, a safety car, a few big crashes, Alpines being taken out by themselves, Lando Norris being taken out, Alex Albon thumping it into the wall.

[00:01:23] But the race didn't really feel exciting at any point. And whatever happened to Yo-Yo Racing? Whatever. We'll get to why we didn't see Yo-Yo Racing, even though we predicted we might just. But very interesting point you said because what you're going to read in the race report versus when you actually sit back and watch every second of the highlights without, or I wouldn't say highlights because highlights usually is just the highlights of the race.

[00:01:45] Which would then mean the second half of the race because till Alex Albon crashed and decided to bring the safety car out. That's why we're saying Albon saved the race in Baku. So till he crashed, it was a snooze fest. And we were constantly trying to wonder in the fireplace studio as well that what's with the Yo-Yo Racing? Aren't we supposed to run out of breath doing commentary on it?

[00:02:09] But yeah, it was one of those races where you just need some interruption and then leads to another interruption and then it just race turns on its head. And it just wasn't fun. At any point, it didn't feel like what's happened would be able to get past George Russell. This is where a lot of people who made reels afterwards, Kunal, were like, so close. We thought Verstappen would be able to get past. It's a dramatic finish.

[00:02:33] I didn't feel it was that dramatic. I'll be honest. I never felt that George had a chance. You mean Max had a chance on George? George, Max had a chance. My apologies. Yeah. You know, I'll put it this way. This is vintage George Russell because when he nails it, it looks beautiful. And that's what we saw on track today. This was George Russell proving that he's worked hard to come back from the summer break and score the number of points that he has.

[00:03:00] Even if the World Championship may not go his way, he is back to being where he belongs, which is the second best driver last season, if you remember. It was not Lando Norris. It was not Oscar Piastri. After Max Verstappen, everyone said, George Russell, what a season he's been putting in. So to me, George Russell made it look like Max could overtake him. Max could pressurize him. And it did seem for a very brief period when Valtteri Bottas' car was crashed and lying there and George went onto the throttle.

[00:03:29] The turbo didn't respond and everyone thought, oh my God, that's it. Max is going to pip him to the line. But apart from that moment, he looked like he was in absolute control of the race. I didn't even feel at that moment that Max would be able to get past. I don't know, just the whole situation of Mercedes taking out three tenths and qualifying just on that straight. I was like, it's not going to happen. It's just not going to happen. Which is where I think we should also pivot back and ask the question, what would we rate this race? Because on paper, Kunal, lots of drama.

[00:03:58] But covering the races, did you feel that it was anything above a 7 on 10? Wow. You know, the first half of the race was probably 2 on 10. The second half of the race is what we usually see Baku to be Samuel. Which is chaos, drivers out of control, safety cars, unpredictability. That part of the race, I would say, yeah, it was 8 on 10 maybe, I would say. Maybe even 9 on 10. Because I'll put it this way. George Russell couldn't run away with the win.

[00:04:27] Okay, which is crucial to remember. So, Max wished it happened in that Red Bull, the fourth quickest car. He was eighth in qualifying. Remember that. Yes, he had a power unit deficit to Isaac Hadja. They changed the power unit within his pool before the race. So, he didn't get a penalty. And that's why he was, you know, really strong. But what Max was doing in that car was beyond incredible. So, I loved watching that.

[00:04:53] So, when you look at pieces and parts, I think it was a solid Formula 1 race. I think it could have been better though. Which is why I feel this... How? Discontentment. The tyres, Kunal. The tyres. Like, it... We barely had anything from the tyres. And at no point did you feel that anything would change. Like, that whole stint where Max was stuck behind... Isak? Sorry, Max was stuck behind... Piastri and Isak was waiting behind. I was personally confused why Red Bull didn't pull the trigger and didn't let Isak go for it.

[00:05:22] And I didn't allow Hadjar the chance to give it his go. And if it doesn't work out, swap it around. So, I was very confused. Maybe that's a lot of due respect for Max, which I think we should discuss. But then there was nothing in the tyres also. Like, it made no sense for them to make a pit stop too. Yeah, so that's great. And this is where we should discuss how Max was mad in every way. Including on that medium when he overtook Isak Hadjar.

[00:05:47] So, there was a crossover period where the soft went out of phase and then came back to life. And that's when Isak Hadjar suddenly looked quicker on the soft. Yeah, when Max was on the medium. So, Pirelli would feel like absolute what the hell happened when your soft tyre is able to go that long. Which means if you use the hard tyre, you could probably even run the same tyre in Malaysia. For all we know, it's the next race coming up on Sunday. But, very interesting question.

[00:06:13] Why did Red Bull Racing not swap Hadjar and Max Verstappen back? So, the scenario on track was Max on that medium was struggling. The medium was not the tyre to be on. He was complaining. Oscar Piastri ahead was not running away with it either. That's a key point to remember. And Isak Hadjar, whose softs came back to life, was able to easily match Max Verstappen in the dirty air and whatever.

[00:06:38] Now, here, if you go five laps before this, Max came up on the mediums to a hard jar and immediately hard jar was told to give away. And the question here, Samuel, is, is this really Max Verstappen's team? Because the team kept Max ahead just for one reason, which came to life this race. What was the reason? Should there be a race interruption? Max should be in prime position to make the most of it. In went Albon. The first driver to hit the pits was Max Verstappen.

[00:07:08] And Isaac Hadjar slowed down, created a gap because he was going to be double stacked. Okay. Hadjar did not lose a position to Charles Leclerc, which is another thing. But that is why Red Bull refused to let Isaac Hadjar go ahead of Max Verstappen. But also, because Oscar Piastri was not running away with it. Had Oscar been opening that gap up, maybe they would have swapped him back. So, very long answer. But I'm glad they showed that Max is our priority.

[00:07:36] And tell me, Max, at that restart, took Piastri. Did you ever imagine Max had the pace to go and chase down George Russell? I didn't. I thought George would be far away. I was amazed when Verstappen got it that close. And even within that one second margin, it shouldn't have been that close. Because it's only one driver who can make it happen. And we also got to see that Mercedes power unit versus RBPT.

[00:08:01] Whatever Red Bull did here worked so well in terms of the balance of the car, the giant rear wing. Their internal combustion as well, it must be shouted out. It was a superb performance. And at a point, I was like, I want Isak to go past. I want him to show that he can be better than Max as well. And finally take that fight and show Red Bull that it's a new era for them. And they have multiple drivers who can fight. But I also understood when he stayed back, when Red Bull gave Max the space.

[00:08:29] And then eventually, Max showed how good he can be. It was just the tires, Kunal. He just needed better tires. Well, Max started on the medium, hoping he would go long and that the tires would outlast the mediums, would outlast the softs. But the softs were doing more than half the race distance. But tell me one thing. Do you think Max Verstappen could have won the race in Azerbaijan? And I'll correct you there. I don't know why I said that. I'll correct you there. Sorry. I'll stop you there. And I know I asked you the question. Okay.

[00:08:58] Max believes he could have been on the front row. Even with George's magic lap, which was eight tenths ahead, Max believes he would have been on the front row had it not been that half a second deficit on that engine. Max and George Russell on the front row, on the opening lap in Baku, at the restarts in Baku. I get a feeling Max would have been ahead at least once, even if not for the entire race. I think he would have been ahead. There we go. I think, yeah, he would have been ahead at some point had he been on the front row.

[00:09:28] But winning, how do you beat that Mercedes, Kunal? Like even Antonelli's 16th to 5th eventually? That car is on another level. But the Red Bull children can go toe-to-toe at points. Exactly. In qualifying trim, that Mercedes was beyond anyone and everything else. Okay. But in race trim, I believe Red Bull was not far behind at all. No. No. And their lap times were just as good. Yeah.

[00:09:53] And hence, I get this feeling if Max was on the front row and not on row four, he would have probably made life even more difficult. So, these are those operational errors. And, you know, I sat through the post-qualifying interviews and I was just like, why is Max so mad? He was immensely mad at Red Bull Racing. And that's the next morning, just before the race, there was an issue from the stewards that Max has changed his power unit components. And that was the proof that there was a deficit.

[00:10:23] But it goes to show how intuitive drivers are. They know. Like, imagine you get out of the car and the first thing is, I'm losing half a second to my teammate. And you're like, okay, wow. So, they could have won. But either way, Red Bull Racing, double podium for the first time since the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix, isn't it? Yes. Yes. It's been a bit. It's been a bit. And I like the fact that they were together. Two drivers doing the duty, putting it in.

[00:10:51] For Red Bull also, it's such a psychological win after being where they were. And remember, they had, they've put out a lot of money to make sure that Max Verstappen stays committed. And even with a car that's not 100% there compared to Mercedes here, they still got that close to winning a race. Imagine what they have to do to then go win it. It's just a little bit more Kunal. And I know Baku is a circuit-specific thing and it suits them. But this will give them such big hope. And hope is such an important thing for any racing team. It is.

[00:11:20] And now Max Verstappen has the unique advantage of being, I think he's on eight podiums now. And in the last, in the last eight races, he's either been on the podium or he's at a DNF. And now he has the most podiums for a non-Mercedes-Works team's driver. So yes, Lando Norris has race wins. But Max actually has more podiums than anyone else apart from Antonelli and George Russell.

[00:11:44] And if Red Bull continue to give him this car, which we know that they are, you know, even if Christian Honner said that Red Bull's lost their charm after I left. If Red Bull continue to give him this car where he's able to fight. Remember last year, that's what he said. I need to be in the fight. Whether I win or lose is another thing. But I need to be in the fight. If he continues to be in the fight, it's brilliant for all of us and for Max Verstappen. Exactly. We need more of that. On the other hand, Ferrari, it just did not work out for them.

[00:12:14] McLaren were in a weird space. I think I'd like to touch upon McLaren first, Kunal. Because Piastri, driver error, clean as day. He had a chance to be on the podium. It would have been amazing. And then he blows it up all on his own. And Lando gets bolted out. What do you have to say? Lando also made the same error as Oscar Piastri did, mind you. Lando also outbraked himself, went into turn one, spun back around. He lost position to Antonelli by doing that. And my reading from this is cold tyres.

[00:12:44] On that medium, McLaren is taking time to get their tyres up to temperature. And cold tyres got the better of both the drivers. Because both drivers had similar lock-ups into turn one. So that's probably my reading. But yeah, Piastri should have been on that podium. Or we should have at least seen a Piastri vs. Hajar fight for that podium. For once, he looked like the Piastri of the old. So this race, vintage George Russell, vintage Max Verstappen, vintage Oscar Piastri, Ferrari were nowhere.

[00:13:13] And when you actually break it down, George Russell, did he look good because Antonelli had issues in qualifying? Oscar Piastri, did he look good because Lando Norris made a mistake in Q3? And Norris actually said, I don't have the same car as Piastri does. It's a valid question. So the two drivers, Piastri and Russell, who were struggling, suddenly are up there in the front. Was it because their teammates were not there? Did they make a step up?

[00:13:41] Was it the circuit that's suddenly delivering to their... Lots of questions which we will eventually find answers to. But yeah, it's good to always know these are the perspectives with which you and I watch Formula 1, Samuel. Yeah, and somehow the second drivers did well this weekend. It's a very interesting correlation. All the number one drivers generally did not do as well. So I find it very interesting how it's all played out. I believe there's more to the story.

[00:14:08] And with due races, we shall find out which way everything swings. But very interesting to see how everything was different in Baku. And this track always changes something around. It's never static. It's never just normal stuff. At this particular racetrack. I particularly though enjoyed Antonelli's comeback. I thought he would be able to do more. Like keeping Monza's example in mind. Hoping that there's going to be more yo-yo racing. None of that happened. Even Antonelli couldn't come back. Surprising, honestly. I expected more.

[00:14:38] I think because he went from P19 to the win in Monza, everyone was expecting him to do something similar here. In fact, George Russell joked that, you know, given Antonelli's talent and the might of the Mercedes car, he thought that Antonelli would start leading the race a couple of laps earlier than he did in Monza. So it was a good way of George himself trying to downplay his chances. But Monza was unique circumstances. The red flag nullified the... It sort of made it a race of two halves.

[00:15:05] Here, Antonelli actually got up to fifth because of the two safety car periods. It bunched up the field which allowed him to go on the attack. So in a way, Antonelli was lucky that he had those safety cars. Without those safety cars, he would have probably been in, you know, the bottom three of the top ten or thereabouts. Which is interesting, right? Given how fast the Mercedes was. But he was also taking it, you know, if you remember in Baku, you just need to keep it clean. And the first 5-10 laps when everyone is bunched up,

[00:15:34] you're going through the infield section just following whoever's ahead of you. You're not driving to your pace, you're driving to the pace of the pack. So I'm pretty pleased with Antonelli to take fifth. He realized he made a mistake in qualifying. Very, very silly mistake. But hey, that's why he has that 81 point or had that 81 point advantage where he could do what he wanted and as he wanted. And it's come down. Eventually, it still is going to be very tough for George Russell to be able to go beat Kimi Antonelli. But this is a start.

[00:16:02] And if anything, Russell needed it the most out of anyone. Can you imagine how brutal it would have been, Kunal, if after all this, Russell didn't win the race? That would have been wild, no? That would have been wild. That would have been, I mean, that would have been some solid attack by Max Verstappen if George Russell wouldn't have won that race. Because George Russell in that sector too and qualifying was incredible. That's where you expect the Ferraris, Leclercs,

[00:16:31] and Norris and the McLarens of the world to come to life. But it was George Russell who came to life in that sector too. And that's where he got it. But the big change that happened by Kimi Antonelli qualifying 16th place is that now, and I'm opening my notes here, now if we look at average qualifying positions, okay, Kimi Antonelli is qualifying. I'm figuring where it's gone. Just give me a second.

[00:16:59] Kimi Antonelli is qualifying average position. If we remove all the bad sectors and whatever. So, wow, just when you want it. Yeah, okay. George Russell's season average and qualifying is 3. Kimi Antonelli's average now is 3.27. Interesting. Just because of that one when he went to 16th place in Paku. So, George Russell just has a better average qualifying. Not that it means anything, right? In the grand scheme of things.

[00:17:27] Because it seems like Antonelli's title, but just shows how close it is between them. Very. But in the races, it's been a different story altogether. I wonder. I wonder how it all goes on in the coming races for George Russell. Like, can this be the start? You remember the Baku curse of last year, right? Piastri having an incident and then derailing his championship completely. I wonder if something similar happens here. Although we don't really want that. The Tifosi 05 is here. That restart felt like Hungary 2021. Pure chaos.

[00:17:57] Now that you mention it, let's touch upon it. What was that from Franco Collopinto Kunal? Goodness, it was one of those. You know, there were two drivers who got that restart wrong. Franco Collopinto and Arvid Lindblad. Okay. Both these drivers are the least experienced drivers on the grid. Both these drivers made the same mistake. They were driving to the pace of what they thought the pack should drive at. Lost it under braking. Cold tires. Rammed into their teammate.

[00:18:27] Both those drivers. And in Collopinto's case, it's just unfortunate that by the time we realized there was no way else for him to go apart from just seeing whichever car he can bolt into first. It just was bad. It looked bad. It looked like reckless driving. Felt like there was a certain urgency to get past. But the rule number one is never hit your teammate. And he just went ahead and hit his teammate Kunal. That's... Like, I said on commentary...

[00:18:55] He didn't aim to go hit Pierre. No. He almost could have taken Antonelli out as well. Okay. And... He would have rather done that. Given what Flavia Brevatoria would have been saying to him after the race. He would have rather done that, honestly. But... Very interesting. And let's touch upon this. Lando Norris has said such drivers don't deserve a spot in Formula 1. They should get a one-race ban. Max Verstappen has said the driver has understood the problem. Apologize for it. We've all made mistakes like this. We at least make it once.

[00:19:24] I don't believe it needs a race ban. Now, he has a five-place grid penalty for the next race. Because he actually picked up an in-race time penalty. Which he couldn't serve because he retired from the race. Do you think that was lenient to get a time penalty? Which then, of course, has resulted into a five-place grid penalty? I think it's fair. Yeah, exactly. I think it's fair. Yeah. I don't think you need to ban people. Even that Grosjean incident from 2012 Spa feels like a bit of an overkill for me. Because that kind of changed his reputation permanently, right?

[00:19:53] I don't know how to do that. Actually, Grosjean actually entered that season with a lot of crash kid reputation. Yeah. So, Grosjean had series of crashes and then he suddenly just went bonkers in Spa. That to me, okay, maybe it made sense. Maybe race control wanted to send a message. Okay. But I think what Colapinto did was okay. But my correlation here is still that two of the least experienced drivers made the same error.

[00:20:19] But the big puzzling part for me, Samil, is do you think Arvid Limblad actually deserved a penalty for what he did to Liam Lawson? In theory, yes. Because you're supposed to judge people by the action and not the consequence. And the action was very much the same. Like, very much the same. I have no clue why Arvid Limblad did not pick up a penalty for doing that. It is just weird. It is just weird. We couldn't even understand half the things.

[00:20:44] And Verstappen had, like, a violation as well for not obeying race control's orders. And then that went away and we never found out what the issue even was. So, it's a lot of... They have put out official notices about that. Not that I care to read them. But they have put out notices about each one of these drivers. And I'm pretty sure about even Arvid they will put out these notices. But we must credit Arvid for doing one thing. Which is, while we are all celebrating the closest finish in F1 history since 2002,

[00:21:14] where Max Verstappen was 0.196 behind George Russell, Arvid Limblad was 0.030 ahead of Esteban Ocon. And he basically just got that slipstream and pipped him to the line. Which is what we've seen happen in Baku before. Remember, it was Stroll versus Botas that had happened as well. So, George Russell was worried he could, you know, be strolled in Baku by Max Verstappen.

[00:21:42] Whereas Esteban Ocon did get strolled in Baku by Arvid Limblad. It was amazing. It was amazing. Also, caps off a terrible weekend for Esteban Ocon. Where after qualifying he said, Oh, this is unfair. Why does this always happen to me? His contract with Haas is now confirmed not to be renewed. It seems like he's going to be on his way out of Formula 1. This caps off a bad, bad weekend. Although they got a bit lucky, both the Haases. Because the Williams team decided to sabotage itself. Carlos Sainz especially.

[00:22:12] The infringement in qualifying was just ridiculous. That's one. It's very, very weird, right? Carlos Sainz has become a very dirty driver now. In these last few races. On top of that, Albon goes and wins it. It just double whammy for Williams at a weekend where the car is supposedly suiting the racetrack. And on top of that, they have a big upgrade. I mean, this is what Carlos Sainz is feeling. He's feeling that he needs to keep out driving the car. Keep finding these hacks in the regulations.

[00:22:39] And for that yellow flag, which he was, you know, pulled up. He actually lifted off later after the yellow flag. Thinking, so long as I'm slow within the sector overall, it's okay. But the steward said, sorry, you have to be slow every time. Not the total time, but every instance that you cross the yellow flag, you got to be off the pace. So, that was that. What do you make of this, Kunal? Signs and all these infringements. Every other race now, Madrid, here.

[00:23:08] He's just pushing too hard because he wants a good result. He's, this is what, you know, on Wireplay, we did this segment called Le Crash. Why does Charles Leclerc crash so much? And one of my assessments is, he's never had a car where he's not had to drive 100%. Or he's never had a car where he could drive less than 100% and still win. Barring those couple of races in 2022. Okay. If you look at Hamilton's dominance, you look at Antonelli's dominance, which has been there this week.

[00:23:38] This season, or you look at Wishtappen's dominance. They have almost always had a car where they could ease off a little and score a win and then score multiple wins. Leclerc has never had that. And as a result of which, he's always needing to be as close to the limit as possible. And the closer you get to the limit, there are times you overstep it. And that's what happens to Leclerc. And that's, I believe that's what happened. That is what is happening to Carlos Sainz. The Williams is not there. He's trying to extract a result out of it.

[00:24:08] But laws of physics that govern what that car can do can only support him so much. Tifosi of I says, that would have been hilarious and would have completely ended George's confidence going forward if Max got him at the end. Yeah, that would have been wild. Firstly, losing to your teammate who started in P19. And then on top of this, losing to a driver who started in P9. A P8 in a much slower car. Damn, that would have been crazy if that would have gone on and happened. But luckily for him, it does not. We soldier on.

[00:24:36] Russell matches Antonelli in terms of race wins in Formula 1. And we hopefully get to see a little bit of a revival from George Russell. Because honestly, we need it. What do we go to next, Kunal? Pirelli tires. We should talk about it. We should. The drivers complain that the tires are like balloons. They are overinflated just for safety reasons. So that's one. But the second is, imagine if somebody actually ran the hard tire. They would have done 3x the laps. Really? They didn't need to.

[00:25:07] They really didn't need to. I haven't had a chance to see. I haven't had a chance to see what Pirelli said post-race. Okay. I'm going to try and see if I can take it up. But my challenge is that there is something with these tires. Because Pirelli has actually gone. This is the softest they can go either way. And there was literally no tire degradation. So one way or the other, we need to figure. And Pirelli needs to tell us what exactly is happening with these tires and how they can make a change, if at all.

[00:25:36] Because we need that. Yeah. And this apparently was the softest that they could have gone for. So very weird. Very weird. All right. Let's end on a question. What would you rate the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix Kunal? A race of two halves. If I average it out, maybe 5 or 6 on 10. If I look only at the second half, maybe 8 on 10. I agree. I agree. I just wish. I just wish the Mercedes power unit was not that strong. So that at least we would have had some hope for Verstappen going past. But man, fun second half at the end.

[00:26:05] And guys, thank you so much for watching along. Kunal, you had something to say. Yeah. You know, Mercedes, while they have the best power unit integrated in power unit software and so on, I also believe what we saw of Max versus George, I didn't care who came out on top. Because Somal, for once, we got to see them battle. Yeah. For once, we got to see Max. You could see he was making mid-corner corrections. And you could see he was sliding at exits. And oh, is he going to kiss a barrier hard enough? And he did that once.

[00:26:34] He asked them to check. And GP saying there are no reliability concerns. And so on. To me, that's what classic motor racing is. It's not, you run out of battery, so I'll go ahead. And then the two corners later, I run out of battery and you go ahead. So in a way, I'm glad we did not see Yo-Yo racing in Baku. And we saw two drivers trying their ultimate best. One, not trying to make a mistake under a high-pressure race environment. High pressure because title hopes. Kimi's at the back. Max is chasing him down.

[00:27:01] And the other one aggressively attacking someone. Because 15 races in and he's yet not had a race win this season. We need more of that. And we need more of these drivers coming in. Unique podium combination as well to top it all off. We've not seen Russell Verstappen and Hajar on the podium together. Makes it good. Makes it good. It's a good way to end this race weekend that ends on a Saturday. So we get a Sunday to chill out. Which we should do on the Inside Line F1 podcast, folks. We'll be back shortly. More races coming your way. Eight left to go.

[00:27:30] Make sure you subscribe to catch us live. And we're going to be going live for a lot of pre-race, post-race shows. And hopefully getting a few guests as well. So stay tuned to that. But thank you for watching everyone. Good night. And we'll catch you in a bit.