Isack Hadjar remains confident that he will be back behind the wheel for the upcoming Italian Grand Prix, despite having to sit out the Dutch Grand Prix because of a wrist injury. The French driver injured his wrist while taking part in a boxing session during the summer break earlier this month.
As a result, Red Bull’s junior team, Racing Bulls, called upon Liam Lawson to fill Hadjar's seat for the Zandvoort event. Lawson's appearance marks a noteworthy moment, as he becomes the first driver to race for Red Bull again after being released by the senior team last season. The reshuffle also sees Yuki Tsunoda stepping into Lawson's vacated seat at Racing Bulls, where he will partner full‑time driver Arvid Lindblad.
According to Sky Sports News, Hadjar suffered a minor fracture—a small crack in one of the wrist bones—late last week during a routine workout. After consulting Red Bull's medical staff, the team decided it was prudent for the young driver to miss the sprint weekend at Zandvoort, giving his wrist extra time to heal before the next round at Monza. Although he is not competing, Hadjar will be present at the Zandvoort circuit this weekend to cheer on Lawson.
He has expressed optimism that his recovery will be swift enough to allow him to line up for the Italian Grand Prix, scheduled for 4‑6 September. The team’s medical advisers are monitoring his progress closely, and Hadjar himself has said he feels the fracture is responding well to treatment. Lawson’s return to Red Bull’s fold comes after a turbulent 2024 season in which he was dropped following two lackluster performances. He managed to retain a seat for 2025 by delivering solid results for Racing Bulls during the latter part of the 2025 campaign, earning the trust of the team’s management.
The 24‑year‑old has emerged as a midfield contender this year, chalking up eight points‑scoring finishes and sitting ninth in the Drivers' Championship—only behind the drivers from Mercedes, McLaren, Ferrari and the senior Red Bull squad. "I've had a lot more races since then [being dropped from Red Bull].
I feel much more comfortable racing in this sport, but it's going to be a very challenging weekend, for sure," Lawson said ahead of the sprint race. "It's a Sprint weekend, so it's going to be a quick learning process.
But that's what we're focused on, that's what we tried to do in the simulator. If we can try and speed up that learning process as much as possible, then that would help our weekend." Meanwhile, Yuki Tsunoda, who has been watching the action from the sidelines, sees this as a chance to showcase his talent and secure a full‑time drive for the 2027 season. His prospects are somewhat clouded by the recent contract extensions of Max Verstappen at Red Bull and the re‑signings of Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon at Williams, but a strong performance could keep his name in the conversation. Tsunoda revealed that he was on holiday in Greece when he received the call to step in for the Dutch Grand Prix.
"When I heard, I was half excited, half still doubtful because anything can happen, but I was super excited too," he explained. "It was all confirmed that I'm racing this weekend. I'm super excited and physically I'm feeling ready. I've done a couple of TPCs [Testing of Previous Cars].
It will be my first time in this car but still, I'm very excited." He added, "As far as I understand, I will be in the seat for now – this weekend – and also it depends on Isack's recovery. I hope that recovery goes pretty fast.
I'm not sure about the next Grand Prix but my objective is to have fun. I've been waiting for a long time.
I was watching the screen for the last few months. Since the season started, I've been dying to be in the car and compete with the drivers. This moment I will just enjoy, and obviously give my 100 per cent performance. Hopefully that will bring some good results." The Dutch Grand Prix weekend features a packed schedule, beginning Saturday morning with F1 Academy qualifying, followed by the sprint build‑up and the sprint race itself.
The afternoon sees the traditional qualifying session for the Grand Prix, alongside support races such as the Porsche Supercup. Sunday continues with additional Academy races, the main Grand Prix, and post‑race analysis. All sessions are broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, and viewers can stream the coverage via NOW without a long‑term contract. In summary, while Hadjar's wrist injury has temporarily sidelined him, the combination of diligent medical care and his own determination gives him a realistic chance of returning for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.
Lawson, eager to prove his worth after his earlier dismissal, will aim to maximise the sprint weekend, while Tsunoda hopes to turn a substitute appearance into a stepping stone for future opportunities. The next few weeks will be crucial for all three drivers as they navigate recovery, performance pressure and the ever‑competitive landscape of Formula One.