Isack Hadjar will be absent from this weekend's Italian Grand Prix as a lingering wrist problem keeps him off the grid, and Liam Lawson will step in for a second straight race with Red Bull. The French driver originally injured his wrist while sparring in a boxing session during the summer break last month, an incident that forced him to miss the Dutch Grand Prix and has left him still not fully recovered for the high‑speed demands of Monza.
Red Bull announced on Wednesday afternoon that they would give Hadjar every possible opportunity to race, but the team's medical personnel have concluded that he should sit out another event to avoid risking his health. The hope is that he will be fit enough to return for the next round in Madrid the following weekend. "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." Lawson's promotion to partner Max Verstappen at Red Bull gives Yuki Tsunoda another opportunity to showcase his talent at Racing Bulls. Tsunoda, who finished just outside the points at Zandvoort, will be looking to improve his standing as he competes alongside the temporary teammate. Hadjar currently sits eighth in the Drivers' Championship. Team principal Laurent Mekies has repeatedly praised the 21‑year‑old, noting that he has been Verstappen's closest teammate for several seasons and that his performances have been instrumental in the team's recent successes.
While Red Bull have not yet confirmed Hadjar's contract status beyond 2026, his strong showings suggest he will retain his seat for the foreseeable future. Lawson impressed at Zandvoort, qualifying only one‑tenth of a second behind Verstappen and finishing the Dutch Grand Prix in seventh place.
This marked a stark improvement from his earlier outings at the start of the 2025 season, when he struggled to match the performance of the regular Red Bull drivers and was subsequently dropped. His solid result in the Netherlands underscores the depth of talent within the Red Bull junior program and demonstrates that he can deliver when given a competitive car. Tsunoda also enjoyed a respectable weekend with Racing Bulls, finishing just outside the points but ahead of full‑time driver Arvid Lindblad. His performance highlights the competitive nature of the midfield and the importance of extracting every ounce of performance from the car, especially when the team is rotating drivers due to injuries.
The Italian Grand Prix weekend is packed with supporting 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, features a full schedule: F3 practice at 7:30 am, F2 practice at 8:55 am, the first Italian Grand Prix practice session at 11 am (officially starting at 11:30 am), F3 qualifying at 12:55 pm, F2 qualifying at 1:50 pm, the second Grand Prix practice at 2:35 pm (starting at 3 pm), The F1 Show at 4:15 pm, and the team bosses' press conference at 5:20 pm. Saturday, September 5, includes the F3 sprint at 8:25 am, the third Grand Prix practice at 11:15 am (starting at 11:30 am), the F2 sprint at 1:10 pm, a build‑up to qualifying at 2:15 pm, the crucial Italian Grand Prix qualifying session at 3 pm (with a live broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event), and Ted's Qualifying Notebook at 5 pm.
Sunday, September 6, will see the F3 feature race at 7:10 am, the F2 feature race at 8:40 am, the Porsche Supercup race at 10:40 am, a Grand Prix build‑up at 12:30 pm, the main Italian Grand Prix start at 2 pm, the chequered flag ceremony and post‑race reaction at 4 pm, and Ted's Notebook at 5 pm. Formula 1 returns to Monza for Ferrari's home race, a marquee event that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1.
Fans can also stream the coverage via NOW, with a flexible, no‑contract subscription that can be cancelled at any time. The race promises high‑speed drama on one of the sport's most historic circuits, and despite Hadjar's absence, the weekend will still deliver plenty of on‑track action, strategic intrigue, and opportunities for the substitute drivers to make their mark. In summary, Isack Hadjar's wrist injury, sustained during a summer boxing session, forces him to sit out the Italian Grand Prix, giving Liam Lawson a second consecutive chance to partner Max Verstappen at Red Bull. Yuki Tsunoda will aim to capitalize on the extra seat, while the team monitors Hadjar's recovery closely, hoping for his return in Madrid.
The weekend's schedule is packed with support series and extensive media coverage, ensuring that fans have a full day of racing entertainment even without the French driver on the grid.