Isack Hadjar remains confident that he will be back behind the wheel for the upcoming Formula 1 round after a recent wrist injury forced him to sit out the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. The young French driver sustained the setback while taking part in a boxing session that was part of his summer training programme earlier this month. As a result, his place at the Dutch event was taken by Liam Lawson, who re‑enters the Red Bull‑affiliated Racing Bulls lineup after having been dropped by the senior team earlier in the season. Lawson's promotion creates a domino effect: Yuki Tsunoda, who has been waiting on the sidelines, will step into Lawson's vacant seat at Racing Bulls, joining regular driver Arvid Lindblad for the weekend.
According to sources at Sky Sports News, Hadjar suffered a small crack in one of the bones of his wrist during a routine workout late last week. After consulting with Red Bull's medical personnel, the decision was made to skip the Sprint weekend at Zandvoort, giving the Frenchman additional time to recover before the next race in Italy at Monza. Even though he is not racing, Hadjar will still be present at the Zandvoort circuit to cheer on Lawson and the team. He has expressed optimism that he will be fit to compete at the Italian Grand Prix, scheduled for 4‑6 September, provided his healing progresses as hoped.
The injury, while inconvenient, is described as a minor fracture, meaning that with proper rest and physiotherapy, a return within a few weeks is realistic. Lawson's own story adds an extra layer of intrigue. After two lacklustre outings for Red Bull in the previous season, he was released from the factory squad. However, his performances for Racing Bulls during the latter part of the 2025 campaign convinced the organisation to retain him for 2026.
At 24 years old, Lawson has emerged as one of the most promising midfield talents, having secured eight points‑scoring finishes and currently sitting ninth in the Drivers' Championship—only behind the established line‑ups at Mercedes, McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull. When asked about the upcoming Sprint weekend, Lawson admitted the challenge ahead: "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 fast‑paced nature of Sprint events, where drivers have limited time to adapt to the car and track conditions. Tsunoda, the Japanese driver who has been observing the action from the periphery this year, sees the situation as a chance to showcase his abilities and potentially secure a full‑time seat for the 2027 season. His prospects are somewhat clouded by the recent contract extensions of top drivers such as Max Verstappen at Red Bull, as well as the re‑signings of Carlos Sainz at Ferrari and Alex Albon at Williams.
Nevertheless, Tsunoda remains eager: "When I heard, I was like half excited, half still doubtful because anything can happen, but I was super excited too. 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 that his participation depends largely on Hadjar's recovery timeline: "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 features a packed schedule of supporting series, including the F1 Academy, Porsche Supercup and various build‑up sessions. The programme starts on Saturday, August 22, with F1 Academy qualifying at 8:15 am, followed by the Dutch GP Sprint build‑up at 10:00 am and the Sprint race itself at 11:00 am. Later in the day, the F1 Academy race, Dutch GP qualifying and the Porsche Supercup race take place.
Sunday, August 23, continues with the second F1 Academy race, a second Porsche Supercup race, and the main Grand Prix action beginning at 2:00 pm, culminating in the chequered flag and post‑race analysis. All sessions are broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with the option to stream via NOW without a long‑term contract.
Viewers are advised to use the Chrome browser for the most accessible video player experience. The Sprint format at Zandvoort adds an extra layer of excitement, as drivers must extract maximum performance from a shortened race distance, making every lap and every overtaking opportunity crucial.
In summary, while Hadjar's wrist fracture has temporarily sidelined him, his optimism about a swift return to Monza reflects both his personal determination and the confidence of the Red Bull medical team. Lawson's re‑entry into the Red Bull fold provides him with a valuable platform to prove his worth, and Tsunoda's eager anticipation underscores the competitive nature of the midfield, where every seat is fiercely contested. The Dutch Grand Prix will therefore serve as a pivotal moment for all three drivers, offering a blend of challenges, opportunities and the ever‑present drama that defines Formula 1.