Isack Hadjar will be absent from the upcoming Italian Grand Prix at Monza as a lingering wrist injury prevents him from competing, and Liam Lawson will step into his seat for a second straight race with the Red Bull outfit. The French driver originally damaged his wrist while taking part in a boxing session during the summer break last month.
The injury was severe enough to force him to sit out the Dutch Grand Prix, and despite intensive rehabilitation he has not regained sufficient fitness to race in Italy. Red Bull announced on Wednesday afternoon that they would give Hadjar every possible opportunity to return to the cockpit, but the team’s medical personnel concluded that it would be unsafe for him to take part in another event so soon.
The plan is for Hadjar to miss Monza and then aim for a comeback at the next round in Madrid the following weekend, provided his recovery continues on schedule. "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 gives him a rare chance to partner Max Verstappen at Red Bull for a second consecutive weekend, and his performance will be closely watched by the team’s hierarchy. In the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, Lawson qualified only one tenth of a second behind Verstappen and finished the race in seventh place, a marked improvement over his two earlier outings with Red Bull at the start of the 2025 season, when he was subsequently dropped. This strong showing could cement his reputation as a reliable backup driver and possibly earn him more regular seat time in the future. Meanwhile, Yuki Tsunoda will also benefit from the reshuffle at Racing Bulls.
With Lawson moving up to the senior team, Tsunoda will have another opportunity to showcase his abilities in a competitive Red Bull environment. In the Dutch race, Tsunoda finished just outside the points but managed to out‑pace full‑time driver Arvid Lindblad, indicating that he is making the most of the equipment available to him. Hadjar currently sits eighth in the Drivers' Championship, and team principal Laurent Mekies has praised the Frenchman as arguably Verstappen’s closest teammate over the past few seasons. Despite the setback, Mekies believes that Hadjar’s consistent performances have secured his future at the team, although Red Bull have yet to confirm whether he will remain with the squad beyond the 2026 season.
At 21 years old, Hadjar has already demonstrated a level of maturity and speed that suggests he could retain his seat for years to come, provided his health remains intact. The Italian Grand Prix weekend is packed with supporting series and fan events. The schedule includes F3 and F2 practice sessions, qualifying rounds, sprint races, and the main Formula 1 qualifying and race.
Highlights of the timetable are: - Thursday, September 3: Drivers’ press conference at 1 pm, followed by the Paddock Uncut at 4 pm. - Friday, September 4: F3 practice at 7.30 am, F2 practice at 8.55 am, Italian Grand Prix Practice One at 11 am (session actually starts at 11.30 am), F3 qualifying at 12.55 pm, F2 qualifying at 1.50 pm, Italian Grand Prix Practice Two 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: F3 sprint at 8.25 am, Italian Grand Prix Practice Three at 11.15 am (starting at 11.30 am), F2 sprint at 1.10 pm, build‑up to Italian Grand Prix qualifying at 2.15 pm, the qualifying session itself at 3 pm, and Ted’s Qualifying Notebook at 5 pm. - Sunday, September 6: F3 feature race at 7.10 am, F2 feature race at 8.40 am, Porsche Supercup race at 10.40 am, Grand Prix build‑up at 12.30 pm, the Italian Grand Prix start at 2 pm, Chequered Flag reaction at 4 pm, and Ted’s Notebook at 5 pm.
All of these events will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available through the NOW platform, which offers a contract‑free, cancel‑anytime option. Viewers are advised to use the Chrome browser for the most accessible video player experience. In summary, Hadjar’s wrist injury will keep him out of Monza, giving Liam Lawson a valuable opportunity to race alongside Max Verstappen for the second weekend in a row.
The French driver remains optimistic about a swift recovery and aims to return at the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid. Meanwhile, the Italian Grand Prix promises a full weekend of high‑octane action across multiple categories, all available to fans via Sky Sports and NOW streaming services.