Isack Hadjar remains upbeat about the prospect of rejoining the Formula 1 grid for the upcoming Italian Grand Prix, following a wrist injury that forced him to sit out the Dutch Grand Prix weekend. The 24‑year‑old French driver fractured a small portion of a bone in his right wrist while taking part in a boxing session that was part of his summer training regimen earlier this month. After a medical assessment by Red Bull’s team doctors, the decision was made to withdraw him from the Sprint race at Zandvoort, giving him additional time to recover before the next round at Monza, scheduled for 4‑6 September. During Hadjar’s absence, Liam Lawson was called up to fill the vacant seat at Red Bull Racing.
Lawson’s return marks a notable moment for the team: he becomes the first driver to re‑appear for Red Bull after being released at the end of the 2024 season. His previous stint with the outfit ended after two under‑whelming performances, but he impressed sufficiently during the remainder of the 2025 campaign with the junior squad, Racing Bulls, to earn a second chance. Lawson will partner full‑time driver Arvid Lindblad, while Yuki Tsunoda steps into Lawson’s former seat at Racing Bulls for the Zandvoort Sprint weekend. Sky Sports News reported that Hadjar’s fracture was identified during a routine workout late last week.
Red Bull’s medical staff, after reviewing scans and consulting with the driver, concluded that a short hiatus would be the safest route. The plan is to keep him out of the Zandvoort Sprint but aim for a full‑race return at Monza, provided his wrist heals as expected. Hadjar travelled to the Dutch circuit anyway to cheer on Lawson and the rest of the team, and he expressed confidence that he will be back behind the wheel for the Italian round. Lawson, who was dropped from the senior Red Bull lineup after a disappointing two‑race run last year, has used his time with Racing Bulls to rebuild his reputation.
Over the course of the 2025 season, he has logged eight points‑scoring finishes and currently sits ninth in the Drivers’ Championship – trailing only the drivers from Mercedes, McLaren, Ferrari and the Red Bull senior squad. Speaking before the Sprint, Lawson acknowledged the steep learning curve of a Sprint weekend but emphasized the team’s focus on maximizing simulator work to shorten the adaptation period. “It’s a Sprint weekend, so it’s going to be a quick learning process. We’ve been putting in a lot of work in the simulator to accelerate that learning curve, and that will be crucial for our performance,” he said.
Meanwhile, Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda, who has been watching the action from the sidelines, sees the Zandvoort opportunity as a chance to showcase his talent and keep his name in the conversation for a possible seat in 2027. Tsunoda’s prospects have become more uncertain after Red Bull confirmed a long‑term extension for Max Verstappen and Williams secured both Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon for the coming seasons.
Tsunoda revealed that he was on holiday in Greece when he received the call to step in for Lawson at Racing Bulls. "When I heard, I was half excited, half 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 physically ready and have done a few TPCs – testing of previous cars – so even though it’ll be my first time in this particular chassis, I’m very eager to get behind the wheel." Tsunoda also commented on the uncertainty surrounding his future seat.
"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. 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," he added.
The Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort featured a Sprint format, with practice, qualifying and the Sprint race all compressed into a single weekend. The schedule included an F1 Academy qualifying session at 8:15 am on Saturday, followed by the Dutch GP Sprint build‑up at 10:00 am, the Sprint itself at 11:00 am, and later the main qualifying session at 3:00 pm.
The race day on Sunday began with the Academy races, followed by the Porsche Supercup, and culminated with the Grand Prix start at 2:00 pm and the chequered flag at approximately 4:00 pm. All sessions were broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available via the NOW platform. Hadjar’s optimism reflects his determination to return to form quickly. He has been receiving physiotherapy and light training to maintain his fitness while his wrist heals.
The driver’s team has indicated that they will monitor his progress closely and make a final call on his participation at Monza once medical clearance is granted. If all goes well, fans can expect to see Hadjar back in the Red Bull car, fighting for points alongside his teammates at the high‑speed Italian circuit. In summary, the situation at Red Bull this weekend showcases the fluid nature of modern Formula 1 line‑ups: injuries, performance reviews and strategic driver swaps can all happen within a single race weekend.
Hadjar’s wrist fracture, Lawson’s comeback, and Tsunoda’s surprise appearance underscore the importance of depth in a team’s driver roster. As the season moves toward its crucial closing stages, each driver’s ability to adapt and deliver results will be pivotal in shaping the final championship standings.