Isack Hadjar will be absent from the upcoming Italian Grand Prix at Monza as he continues to recover from a wrist injury that has not yet healed sufficiently for him to compete. The French driver, who has shown promise as Max Verstappen's teammate at Red Bull, sustained the problem while participating in a boxing workout during the summer break last month. The injury forced him to miss the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, and despite intensive rehabilitation efforts, the medical team has advised that he sit out another race to avoid risking further damage. In his place, Red Bull has called up Liam Lawson for a second straight appearance alongside Verstappen.
Lawson, who impressed during his debut at the Dutch Grand Prix by qualifying just one tenth of a second off Verstappen's pole time and finishing the race in seventh place, will now take the second Red Bull seat for the Monza weekend. This decision gives the team a chance to evaluate Lawson's consistency in a high‑pressure environment and also provides Yuki Tsunoda with an additional opportunity to showcase his abilities at the Racing Bulls stable.
Red Bull announced the lineup change on Wednesday afternoon, stating that while they remain fully supportive of Hadjar's recovery, the team will not take any unnecessary risks with his health. "Liam will drive alongside Max at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, while Isack continues to make encouraging progress following the wrist injury sustained during the summer break," the team said in an official statement. "The team is closely monitoring his rehabilitation and will take no unnecessary risks with his return to competition and wishes him a speedy recovery." Hadjar currently sits eighth in the Drivers' Championship, and team principal Laurent Mekies has repeatedly praised his contributions, noting that the 21‑year‑old has been Verstappen's closest teammate for several seasons. Mekies believes that, provided Hadjar can return to full fitness, his performances will likely secure his seat beyond the 2025 season, though the contract situation for 2027 remains unresolved.
The decision to keep Hadjar out of Monza also aligns with Red Bull's broader strategy of managing driver health and ensuring that each race weekend features a fully fit lineup. The medical staff's recommendation to skip the Italian round is based on a thorough assessment of the wrist's condition, which still exhibits swelling and limited mobility despite physiotherapy, massage, and targeted strength exercises.
The team hopes that the additional recovery time will allow Hadjar to return for the next event in Madrid, where he can resume his campaign without compromising his long‑term performance. Lawson's promotion to the Red Bull car for a second race provides a valuable data point for the team. At Zandvoort, his qualifying effort—just a tenth of a second off Verstappen—demonstrated that he can extract near‑optimal performance from the RB19 chassis.
His seventh‑place finish, a marked improvement over his earlier outings at the start of the 2025 season when he was replaced, suggests that he has adapted quickly to the demands of a top‑tier Formula 1 machine. This experience will be crucial as Red Bull evaluates potential future driver line‑ups, especially given the uncertainty surrounding Hadjar's contract beyond 2026. Meanwhile, Yuki Tsunoda also had a solid weekend with Racing Bulls. Although he finished just outside the points, his race pace and consistency placed him ahead of full‑time driver Arvid Lindblad, highlighting his capability to compete when given a competitive car.
Tsunoda's performance adds depth to the team's driver pool and underscores the importance of having reliable backup drivers ready to step in when needed. The Italian Grand Prix schedule is packed with supporting series and fan events. On Thursday, September 3, the drivers' press conference will begin at 1 pm, followed by the Paddock Uncut at 4 pm. Friday, September 4, will feature a full day of practice sessions across Formula 3, Formula 2, and the F1 practice sessions, culminating in the F1 Show and a team bosses' press conference.
Saturday, September 5, includes the F3 sprint, the third F1 practice, the F2 sprint, and the crucial Italian Grand Prix qualifying session at 3 pm, with additional analysis from Ted's Qualifying Notebook. Sunday, September 6, will host the F3 feature race, the F2 feature race, the Porsche Supercup race, and the main event—the Italian Grand Prix itself—starting at 2 pm, followed by post‑race reaction and another edition of Ted's Notebook. Fans can watch the race live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available through the NOW platform, which offers a flexible, contract‑free option that can be cancelled at any time. The event marks Ferrari's home race, and the historic Monza circuit, known for its high‑speed straights and passionate tifosi, promises an exhilarating weekend of motorsport action.
In summary, Isack Hadjar's wrist injury will keep him sidelined for the Italian Grand Prix, allowing Liam Lawson to gain further experience alongside Max Verstappen. The Red Bull team remains optimistic about Hadjar's recovery and aims to have him back on the grid for the next race in Madrid. Both Lawson and Tsunoda have shown promising form, reinforcing Red Bull's depth of talent as they navigate the remainder of the season. The Monza weekend will feature a comprehensive program of races and events, offering plenty of excitement for viewers across the globe.