Isack Hadjar remains confident that he will be back on the grid for the upcoming Formula 1 round after a recent 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 programme earlier this month.
As a result, his place at Zandvoort was taken by Liam Lawson, who makes a notable return to a Red Bull‑affiliated outfit after being dropped by the senior team earlier in the season. Lawson's promotion creates a ripple effect within the Racing Bulls line‑up. Yuki Tsunoda, who has been waiting on the sidelines, will step into Lawson's vacated seat alongside regular driver Arvid Lindblad.
According to sources at 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 team, the decision was taken to skip the Sprint race at Zandvoord to give the young driver additional time to heal before the next event at Monza. Despite being unable to compete, Hadjar travelled to Zandvoort to support Lawson from the pit lane and expressed optimism about a return at the Italian Grand Prix, scheduled for 4‑6 September.
He said he feels the recovery is progressing well and hopes to be fit for the high‑speed circuit at Monza. Lawson's story is also worth noting. He was released from the Red Bull programme after two under‑whelming performances last year, but he managed to impress during the remainder of the 2025 season while driving for Racing Bulls, earning enough merit to retain a seat for 2026. The 24‑year‑old has become a midfield standout, collecting points in eight races and currently sitting ninth in the Drivers' Championship—just behind the line‑up of Mercedes, McLaren, Ferrari and the Red Bull trio.
"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 explained 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, the Japanese driver, has been watching the action from the periphery this year and now sees a chance to showcase his talent in hopes of securing a full‑time seat for the 2027 season. His prospects are somewhat constrained by recent contract extensions at the top teams—Max Verstappen has re‑signed with Red Bull, while Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon have locked in with Williams.
Nonetheless, Tsunoda was on holiday in Greece when he received a call on Tuesday asking him to step into the Racing Bulls car for the Dutch Sprint. "When I heard, I was half excited, half still doubtful because anything can happen, but I was super excited too," he said.
He continued, "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. 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. On Saturday, August 22, the day begins with the F1 Academy qualifying session at 8:15 am, followed by build‑up coverage for the Sprint at 10:00 am.
The Sprint itself starts at 11:00 am, with the Academy race later in the afternoon and the main qualifying session at 3:00 pm. The evening sees the Porsche Supercup race and the final moments of the Sprint.
Sunday, August 23, continues with the second Academy race, another Porsche Supercup race, and the full Grand Prix program, culminating in the chequered flag at around 4:00 pm. All sessions are broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with the option to stream via the NOW platform, which offers a contract‑free, cancel‑anytime model.
Fans are encouraged to use the Chrome browser for the most accessible video player experience. In summary, while Hadjar's wrist injury temporarily sidelines him, the Frenchman's determination to return for Monza remains strong. Lawson gets a valuable opportunity to prove his worth in a Red Bull‑linked car, and Tsunoda hopes to turn a short‑term substitute role into a longer‑term career breakthrough. The Dutch Sprint weekend provides a crucial testing ground for all three drivers as they navigate the challenges of a compressed race format and aim to maximize points in a tightly contested midfield battle.