Isack Hadjar remains confident that he will be back on the grid for the upcoming Italian Grand Prix after a wrist injury forced him to sit out the Dutch Grand Prix weekend. The French driver sustained the injury during a boxing session that formed part of his summer training regimen earlier this month. As a result, Red Bull’s junior outfit Racing Bulls has called upon Liam Lawson to fill Hadjar's seat for the Zandvoort sprint event, marking Lawson's first appearance for the team since his previous stint ended when Red Bull released him.
Lawson's promotion creates a domino effect: Yuki Tsunoda will step into Lawson's vacant Racing Bulls seat, joining full‑time teammate Arvid Lindblad for the remainder of the weekend. According to sources at Sky Sports News, Hadjar suffered a minor fracture—a small crack in one of the carpal bones—late last week while completing a routine workout.
After consulting Red Bull’s medical team, the decision was made to spare him the sprint race at Zandvoord so that the fracture could heal adequately before the next round at Monza. Although he is not competing, Hadjar will be present at Zandvoort to support Lawson and the rest of the squad. He has expressed optimism that the recovery period will be short enough for him to take part in the Italian Grand Prix, scheduled for 4‑6 September.
The young driver’s presence at the circuit, even in a supportive capacity, underscores his commitment to the team and his desire to return to racing as soon as medically feasible. Lawson’s return to Red Bull’s feeder team is noteworthy because he was dropped after two under‑whelming performances in the previous season. Nevertheless, his strong showings during the latter part of the 2025 campaign with Racing Bulls earned him a renewed contract for 2026. The 24‑year‑old has emerged as a midfield standout, chalking up eight points‑scoring finishes and currently 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. "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." Tsunoda, who has been watching the action from the sidelines this season, now has a chance to showcase his talent and potentially secure a full‑time drive for 2027.
His prospects, however, appear constrained by Red Bull’s recent decision to extend Max Verstappen’s contract and the re‑signings of Carlos Sainz at Ferrari and Alex Albon at Williams. The Japanese driver revealed that he was on holiday in Greece when he received the call on Tuesday to prepare for a seat with Racing Bulls. "When I heard, I was like half excited, half still doubtful because anything can happen, but I was super excited too," Tsunoda 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 that includes an F1 Academy qualifying session, the sprint race, the main Grand Prix qualifying, and support races such as the Porsche Supercup. The sprint format adds an extra layer of intensity, as drivers must extract maximum performance over a shortened distance, making practice and simulator work crucial. For Lawson and Tsunoda, the weekend offers a rare opportunity to gain valuable track time and demonstrate adaptability under pressure.
Beyond the on‑track action, Sky Sports provides extensive coverage, including live streams, race analysis, and head‑to‑head team statistics. Viewers are encouraged to use the Chrome browser for optimal video playback, and the network also promotes its NOW streaming service, which offers flexible, contract‑free access to all F1 races.
Additional features include a WhatsApp channel for real‑time updates and a schedule of upcoming events, ensuring fans can stay engaged throughout the season. Looking ahead, Hadjar’s recovery timeline will be closely monitored by the Red Bull medical team.
If the fracture heals as anticipated, he could rejoin the grid at Monza, where the high‑speed nature of the circuit often rewards drivers with strong braking stability—an area where a healthy wrist is essential. A successful return would not only boost his championship points tally but also reaffirm his resilience after a setback.
In summary, the situation at Racing Bulls illustrates the fluid nature of Formula 1 line‑ups, where injuries, performance swings, and strategic decisions can rapidly reshuffle driver line‑ups. Hadjar’s optimism, Lawson’s redemption arc, and Tsunoda’s hunger for a permanent seat combine to create a compelling narrative for the Dutch sprint weekend and set the stage for an intriguing Italian Grand Prix in September.