Isack Hadjar remains confident that he will be back behind the wheel for the upcoming Formula 1 round after a wrist problem forced him to sit out the recent Dutch Grand Prix. The injury occurred during a boxing session that he incorporated into his summer training regimen earlier this month. As a result, the French driver will be replaced for the Zandvoort event by Liam Lawson, who will make history as the first driver to reappear for Red Bull after previously losing his seat with the team. Lawson's promotion creates a domino effect: Yuki Tsunoda will step into Lawson's vacancy at the Racing Bulls squad, 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 wrist bones—late last week while completing a routine workout. After consulting Red Bull's medical personnel, the decision was taken to withdraw him from the Sprint weekend at Zandvoord, allowing extra time for the fracture to heal before the next race in Monza, Italy.
Despite being sidelined, Hadjar travelled to Zandvoort to cheer on Lawson from the pit lane. He expressed optimism that the recovery period would be short enough for him to line up for the Italian Grand Prix, scheduled for 4‑6 September.
The Frenchman’s absence from the Dutch event was a precaution, not a permanent setback, and he hopes the extra rest will enable him to return in full fitness for the high‑speed, high‑downforce circuit at Monza. Lawson’s own story adds another layer of intrigue. After being dropped from the Red Bull junior programme following two under‑whelming outings last season, he proved his worth during the latter part of the 2025 campaign with Racing Bulls, earning a full‑time drive for the current year. The 24‑year‑old has quickly become a midfield standout, racking up eight points‑scoring finishes and currently occupying ninth place in the Drivers' Championship—just behind the drivers from Mercedes, McLaren, Ferrari and the Red Bull senior team.
In a post‑race interview, Lawson reflected on his journey: "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 comments underline the pressure of stepping into a seat on short notice and the need to adapt quickly to the car's characteristics. Meanwhile, Yuki Tsunoda, who has been watching the action from the sidelines all season, sees this unexpected opportunity as a chance to showcase his talent and keep his name in the conversation for a permanent seat in 2027. The Japanese driver acknowledged that his prospects are somewhat constrained by recent contract extensions at the top teams—Max Verstappen’s renewed deal at Red Bull and the re‑signings of Carlos Sainz at Ferrari and Alex Albon at Williams—yet he remains determined to make an impression.
Tsunoda recounted how he was on holiday in Greece when he received a call on Tuesday informing him that he would be called up to drive for Racing Bulls at Zandvoort. "When I heard, I was half excited, half still doubtful because anything can happen, but I was super excited too," he 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." 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 also featured a packed schedule of support series, including the F1 Academy, Porsche Supercup and other events, all broadcast live on Sky Sports F1.
Fans were encouraged to stream the action via the NOW platform, which offers a contract‑free, cancel‑anytime viewing experience. The Sprint format at Zandvoort added an extra layer of excitement, with a shorter, more intense race that tests drivers' ability to extract maximum performance in a limited number of laps. In summary, the key storylines from the Dutch weekend revolve around Hadjar's hopeful return, Lawson's redemption arc, and Tsunoda's surprise call‑up.
All three drivers are navigating unique challenges while striving to deliver strong results for their respective teams. As the calendar moves toward Monza, all eyes will be on Hadjar's recovery progress and whether he can rejoin the grid in time for one of Formula 1's most iconic high‑speed circuits.