Isack Hadjar will be absent from this weekend's Italian Grand Prix after failing to recover from a wrist injury sustained during a training boxing session last month. The French driver, who has been a regular fixture in Red Bull's second seat, will be replaced by Liam Lawson for the second race in a row at the Italian team. The injury occurred during a summer‑break boxing workout, an activity Hadjar uses to stay fit between races.
The impact was severe enough to force him out of the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, and despite intensive physiotherapy and medical monitoring, his wrist has not healed sufficiently to meet the demanding physical requirements of a Formula 1 car at the high‑speed circuit of Monza. Red Bull announced on Wednesday afternoon that they would give Hadjar every possible chance to return, but their medical staff concluded that the risk of aggravating the injury outweighed any short‑term benefit. The team hopes the Frenchman will be fit again for the next round in Madrid, where he is expected to rejoin the lineup if his rehabilitation continues on schedule. In a statement, Red Bull said: "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 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 opportunity to partner Max Verstappen at the premier team for a second consecutive weekend. After impressing at Zandvoort—qualifying just one‑tenth of a second off Verstappen's pole and finishing seventh in the race—Lawson has shown that he can handle the pressure of a top‑tier car. His performance contrasts sharply with his earlier outings at the start of the 2025 season, when he was dropped after two under‑whelming races.
Yuki Tsunoda, who will continue to race for the team now known as Racing Bulls, also gets a chance to shine. He finished just outside the points in the Dutch Grand Prix, edging out full‑time driver Arvid Lindblad, and will look to improve his result at Monza.
Tsunoda's steady progress adds depth to the squad and provides Red Bull with additional data for car development. Hadjar currently sits eighth in the Drivers' Championship.
Team principal Laurent Mekies has repeatedly praised the young Frenchman, noting that he has been Verstappen's closest teammate for several years and that his consistency has been a key factor in the team's overall performance. While Red Bull has not yet confirmed Hadjar's contract status beyond 2026, his strong showings suggest that the 21‑year‑old will likely retain his seat for the 2027 season.
The Italian Grand Prix weekend is packed with supporting categories. The schedule includes F3 and F2 practice sessions, qualifying, sprint races, and the main Formula 1 events. Highlights of the programme are: Thursday, September 3 – Drivers' press conference at 1 p.m., followed by the Paddock Uncut at 4 p.m.
Friday, September 4 – F3 practice at 7.30 a.m., F2 practice at 8.55 a.m., Italian GP Practice One at 11 a.m. (official start 11.30 a.m.), F3 qualifying at 12.55 p.m., F2 qualifying at 1.50 p.m., Practice Two at 2.35 p.m., The F1 Show at 4.15 p.m., and the Team Bosses' press conference at 5.20 p.m. Saturday, September 5 – F3 sprint at 8.25 a.m., Practice Three at 11.15 a.m., F2 sprint at 1.10 p.m., Qualifying build‑up at 2.15 p.m., Italian GP qualifying at 3 p.m., and Ted's Qualifying Notebook at 5 p.m. Sunday, September 6 – F3 feature race at 7.10 a.m., F2 feature race at 8.40 a.m., Porsche Supercup at 10.40 a.m., Grand Prix build‑up at 12.30 p.m., the Italian Grand Prix itself at 2 p.m., Chequered Flag reaction at 4 p.m., and Ted's Notebook at 5 p.m.
All sessions will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available via the NOW platform. Viewers are advised to use the Chrome browser for the most accessible video player experience. Monza, known as the "Temple of Speed," is Ferrari's home race and one of the most historic venues on the F1 calendar. The high‑speed straights, sweeping corners, and passionate Italian fans make it a highlight of the season.
While the Red Bull team will be without Hadjar, they will still field a strong line‑up with Verstappen, Lawson, and Tsunoda, each eager to maximise points for the championship battle. In summary, Hadjar's wrist injury will keep him out of the Italian Grand Prix, giving Liam Lawson a second chance to prove himself alongside Max Verstappen.
The Frenchman's recovery is being closely watched, with hopes of a return in Madrid. Meanwhile, the weekend promises a full slate of racing action across multiple categories, all streamed live for fans worldwide.