Isack Hadjar remains confident that he will be back behind the wheel for the upcoming Formula 1 round after a wrist injury forced him to sit out the Dutch Grand Prix weekend. The French driver sustained the injury while taking part in a boxing session that was part of his summer training program earlier this month. As a result, Red Bull’s junior team, Racing Bulls, has called up Liam Lawson to fill Hadjar's seat for the Zandvoort sprint weekend. Lawson's appearance marks a notable moment, as he becomes the first driver to rejoin a Red Bull‑affiliated outfit after being released by the senior team.

In turn, Yuki Tsunoda will step into Lawson's vacated seat at Racing Bulls, partnering full‑time driver Arvid Lindblad for the remainder of the event. 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 with Red Bull's medical personnel, the decision was made to skip the sprint races at Zandvoort so that the injury could heal properly before the next round at Monza, the Italian Grand Prix, scheduled for September 4‑6.

Although he is not competing, Hadjar is present at the Zandvoort circuit this weekend to cheer on Lawson and the team. He has expressed optimism that, with a few more days of rest and physiotherapy, he will be fit to race again in Italy. The Italian Grand Prix is a crucial fixture for the championship, and a return there would allow Hadjar to continue his strong midfield campaign. Lawson's story is also worth noting.

After two lackluster outings for Red Bull in the previous season, he was dropped from the senior squad. However, his performances for Racing Bulls during the latter part of the 2025 season impressed the team enough to secure a full‑time drive for 2026. At 24, Lawson has emerged as one of the standout drivers in the midfield, accumulating eight points‑scoring finishes and sitting ninth in the Drivers' Championship—behind only the Mercedes, McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull line‑ups. In a pre‑race interview, Lawson acknowledged the steep learning curve of a sprint weekend: "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. 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." His remarks underline the importance of simulation work and rapid adaptation when a driver steps into a new car on short notice. Meanwhile, Yuki Tsunoda, who has been watching the action from the sidelines, sees this opportunity as a potential springboard for his own future. With the 2027 grid still shaping up and limited seats available—especially after Max Verstappen's contract extension at Red Bull and the recent re‑signings of Carlos Sainz at Ferrari and Alex Albon at Williams—Tsunoda is eager to showcase his talent. He revealed that he was on holiday in Greece when he received a call on Tuesday asking him to be ready for Racing Bulls.

"When I heard, I was like half excited, half still doubtful because anything can happen, but I was super excited too," Tsunoda said. "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." Tsunoda also addressed the uncertainty surrounding his longer‑term role: "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 at Zandvoort is structured as a sprint format, with qualifying sessions and a short race that determine the grid for the main Grand Prix. The schedule includes F1 Academy events, Porsche Supercup races, and multiple build‑up shows, all broadcast live on Sky Sports F1. Viewers are encouraged to stream the coverage via NOW, which offers a contract‑free option that can be cancelled at any time.

In summary, Isack Hadjar is on the mend and targets a return at Monza, while Liam Lawson steps in for the sprint weekend and aims to make the most of his sudden promotion. Yuki Tsunoda fills Lawson's former seat, hoping to impress and secure a longer‑term role amid a competitive driver market.

The weekend promises intense on‑track action, with the sprint format adding an extra layer of strategy and excitement for fans and teams alike.