Isack Hadjar will be absent from this weekend's Italian Grand Prix because his wrist has not healed sufficiently, and Liam Lawson will step into his seat for a second straight race with Red Bull. The French driver injured his wrist while sparring in a boxing session during the summer break last month, an incident that already cost him a place at the Dutch Grand Prix and now prevents him from competing 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 he should sit out another event. The hope is that he will be fit enough to rejoin the lineup 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 gives Yuki Tsunoda another chance to showcase his abilities at Racing Bulls. With Lawson moving up to partner Max Verstappen, Tsunoda will be the sole full‑time driver for the team at Monza, and a strong performance could bolster his standing within the squad.
Hadjar currently sits eighth in the Drivers' Championship. Team principal Laurent Mekies has often praised the 21‑year‑old, noting that he has been Max Verstappen's closest teammate for several seasons.
While Red Bull have not yet confirmed whether Hadjar will retain his seat for the 2027 season, his performances to date suggest that the team will be keen to keep him. Lawson impressed at Zandvoort, qualifying just one tenth of a second behind Verstappen and finishing the Dutch Grand Prix in seventh place. This marked a dramatic turnaround from his early 2025 outings for Red Bull, when he was dropped after two lackluster runs. His strong showing in the Netherlands underscores why the team trusted him to fill Hadjar’s vacancy at Monza.
Tsunoda also delivered a respectable weekend for Racing Bulls, finishing just outside the points and ahead of full‑time driver Arvid Lindblad. Although he did not score points, his pace and consistency indicated that he can compete effectively when given the opportunity.
The Italian Grand Prix schedule is packed with support races and media events. On Thursday, September 3, the Drivers' Press Conference will begin at 1:00 pm, followed by the Paddock Uncut at 4:00 pm.
Friday, September 4, will feature a full day of practice sessions across the junior categories, with F3 Practice at 7:30 am, F2 Practice at 8:55 am, and the first F1 practice session for the Grand Prix starting at 11:30 am. Qualifying sessions for F3 and F2 will follow in the early afternoon, and the second F1 practice will commence at 3:00 pm, leading into the F1 Show at 4:15 pm and the Team Bosses' Press Conference at 5:20 pm. Saturday, September 5, continues the action with an F3 Sprint at 8:25 am, the third F1 practice at 11:30 am, and an F2 Sprint at 1:10 pm. The afternoon will host the build‑up to the Italian Grand Prix Qualifying, which begins at 3:00 pm, with Ted's Qualifying Notebook airing at 5:00 pm.
Sunday, September 6, the race day schedule starts with the F3 Feature Race at 7:10 am, followed by the F2 Feature Race at 8:40 am and the Porsche Supercup Race at 10:40 am. After a brief build‑up period, the main event, the Italian Grand Prix, will kick off at 2:00 pm, with the chequered flag and post‑race reaction at 4:00 pm, and Ted's Notebook concluding the coverage at 5:00 pm.
All of these sessions, including the main race, will also be available on Sky Sports Main Event. Monza, known as the "Temple of Speed," is Ferrari's home circuit and one of the most historic venues on the Formula 1 calendar. The high‑speed straights and iconic chicanes make it a true test of driver skill and car aerodynamics. Fans can watch the event live on Sky Sports F1, and the race will also be streamed via NOW without a long‑term contract, allowing viewers to cancel at any time.
In summary, Hadjar's wrist injury forces him to miss the Italian Grand Prix, giving Liam Lawson a valuable second opportunity to race alongside Max Verstappen and providing Yuki Tsunoda with a chance to prove his worth. Red Bull remain cautious about Hadjar's recovery but are optimistic about his return for the Madrid round.
The weekend promises a full slate of racing action, from junior categories to the premier Formula 1 showdown at Monza, all broadcast across multiple platforms for global fans.