How the faster Hadjar helped Verstappen to second place in Baku

Max Verstappen's charge from eighth on the grid was a display of his typical dominance, quickly overcoming his teammate Isack Hadjar and Lando Norris to challenge for the lead. However, just as he positioned himself to battle Oscar Piastri for a shot at George Russell, Verstappen encountered unexpected technical issues. Despite the setback, Verstappen's performance underscored the pace he lacked during a compromised qualifying session. While the team-ordered swap with Hadjar initially looked like a strategic path to victory, the mechanical problems halted his momentum, leaving him unable to pursue Russell for the win.