Isack Hadjar will be absent from this weekend's Italian Grand Prix as his lingering wrist injury continues to impede his ability to compete, and Liam Lawson will step in for a second straight race with Red Bull. The French driver first sustained the injury during a boxing session that formed part of his summer training regimen last month.
The incident forced him to miss the Dutch Grand Prix, and despite intensive rehabilitation, he has not recovered sufficiently to race at Monza. 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 a further race absence was the safest course of action.
They hope the young driver will be fit enough to rejoin the grid for the next event 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," Red Bull 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 Yuki Tsunoda another chance to showcase his talent at the Racing Bulls. In the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, Lawson qualified just one tenth of a second behind Max Verstappen and finished the race in seventh place, a marked improvement over his earlier outings for Red Bull at the start of the 2025 season when he was subsequently dropped. Tsunoda, meanwhile, posted a solid performance, finishing just outside the points and edging out full‑time driver Arvid Lindblad, underscoring the depth of talent within the Red Bull junior program.
Hadjar currently sits eighth in the Drivers' Championship. Team principal Laurent Mekies has praised the 21‑year‑old, noting that he has been Verstappen’s closest teammate for several years and that his performances suggest he will retain his seat beyond the 2026 season, though a formal contract extension for 2027 has yet to be confirmed. The Italian Grand Prix at Monza, Ferrari’s home race, will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming options available via NOW.
Fans can also follow a detailed schedule of events surrounding the weekend: Thursday, 3 September – 1 pm Drivers' Press Conference; 4 pm Paddock Uncut. Friday, 4 September – 7.30 am F3 Practice; 8.55 am F2 Practice; 11 am Italian GP Practice One (starts 11.30 am); 12.55 pm F3 Qualifying; 1.50 pm F2 Qualifying; 2.35 pm Italian GP Practice Two (starts 3 pm); 4.15 pm The F1 Show; 5.20 pm Team Bosses' Press Conference.
Saturday, 5 September – 8.25 am F3 Sprint; 11.15 am Italian GP Practice Three (starts 11.30 am); 1.10 pm F2 Sprint; 2.15 pm Italian GP Qualifying build‑up; 3 pm Italian Grand Prix Qualifying; 5 pm Ted's Qualifying Notebook. Sunday, 6 September – 7.10 am F3 Feature Race; 8.40 am F2 Feature Race; 10.40 am Porsche Supercup Race; 12.30 pm Grand Prix Sunday build‑up; 2 pm THE ITALIAN GRAND PRIX; 4 pm Chequered Flag: Italian GP reaction; 5 pm Ted's Notebook. All sessions marked with an asterisk will also be shown on Sky Sports Main Event.
The weekend promises plenty of on‑track action beyond the F1 headline. Support categories such as Formula 3, Formula 2, and the Porsche Supercup will provide additional excitement, while the paddock will be buzzing with press conferences, interviews, and behind‑the‑scenes content for dedicated fans. Viewers are encouraged to use a Chrome browser for the most accessible video player experience. In summary, Hadjar’s wrist injury has forced him to miss yet another race, but the Red Bull team remains confident in his recovery trajectory.
Lawson’s continued presence alongside Max Verstappen offers a valuable learning opportunity for both the rookie and the established champion, while Tsunoda aims to capitalize on his recent form. The Monza circuit, with its historic high‑speed straights and passionate Italian fans, will host a thrilling showdown, and the broadcast schedule ensures that enthusiasts can follow every session, from practice to post‑race analysis, across multiple platforms.