Isack Hadjar will be absent from this weekend's Italian Grand Prix after failing to recover from a wrist injury sustained during his summer training. The 21-year-old 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 with the team. The injury originated in a boxing session that Hadjar took part in during the summer break last month.
The impact to his wrist was significant enough to force him out of the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, and despite an intensive rehabilitation programme he has not regained sufficient strength or mobility to compete at the high‑speed demands of Monza. Red Bull announced on Wednesday afternoon that they would give Hadjar every possible chance to return, but the team’s medical personnel concluded that it would be unsafe for him to race again so soon. The plan is for Hadjar to sit out the Italian round and aim to be fit for the next event, the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid, which takes place 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 him another opportunity to prove his worth as Max Verstappen’s teammate. In the Dutch Grand Prix he qualified just one tenth of a second off Verstappen’s pole time and finished the race in seventh place, a marked improvement over his earlier outings at the start of the 2025 season when he was briefly dropped from the Red Bull programme.
His solid performance at Zandvoort has reinforced the team’s confidence in his ability to step in when needed. Meanwhile, Yuki Tsunoda, the other driver for the Racing Bulls, will also have a chance to showcase his talent. At Zandvoort Tsunoda finished just outside the points but managed to finish ahead of full‑time driver Arvid Lindblad, demonstrating that he can compete strongly when given the right circumstances.
Hadjar currently sits eighth in the Drivers' Championship. Team principal Laurent Mekies has repeatedly praised his consistency and noted that Hadjar has been Verstappen’s closest teammate for several years, often delivering comparable lap times and contributing valuable feedback to car development. Although Red Bull has not yet confirmed whether Hadjar will retain his seat beyond the 2027 season, his performances to date suggest that the team is likely to keep him in the lineup if he can stay healthy.
The Italian Grand Prix weekend is packed with support races and media events. The schedule includes practice sessions for Formula 3, Formula 2 and the main Formula 1 race, as well as qualifying sessions, sprint races, and a series of press conferences. 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 starts at 11.30 pm), F3 qualifying at 12.55 pm, F2 qualifying at 1.50 pm, Italian Grand Prix Practice Two at 2.35 pm (session starts 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 (session starts at 11.30 am), F2 sprint at 1.10 pm, Qualifying build‑up at 2.15 pm, Italian Grand Prix qualifying 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 itself at 2 pm, Chequered Flag reaction at 4 pm, and Ted's Notebook at 5 pm. All sessions will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with the option to stream via NOW without a long‑term contract.
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 circuit and traditionally produces a thrilling race due to its long straights, high‑speed corners, and passionate Italian fans.
The absence of Hadjar adds another layer of intrigue, as the team will need to adapt quickly to Lawson's driving style while maintaining the performance balance with Verstappen. The medical team will continue to monitor Hadjar’s recovery closely, hoping he can return to full fitness for the upcoming Spanish Grand Prix, where he will aim to regain lost points and continue his push up the championship standings.