Isack Hadjar will be absent from this weekend's Italian Grand Prix because his wrist has not healed sufficiently, prompting Red Bull to call upon Liam Lawson for a second straight appearance with the team. The French driver sustained the injury while sparring in a boxing session during the summer break last month.
The setback forced him to sit out the Dutch Grand Prix, and despite intensive rehabilitation, he has not regained the fitness required for the high‑speed demands of Monza. Lawson, who has been promoted to partner Max Verstappen at Red Bull for the Italian round, will give Yuki Tsunoda another opportunity to showcase his talent at the Racing Bulls stable. Tsunoda, who finished just outside the points in the previous race, will be eager to capitalize on the chance to race alongside the team's lead driver.
Red Bull announced on Wednesday afternoon that they had evaluated Hadjar's condition and, after consulting their medical team, decided it would be safest for him to miss another event. The team hopes the 21‑year‑old can return for the next Grand Prix 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 statement read. "The team is closely monitoring his rehabilitation and will take no unnecessary risks with his return to competition and wishes him a speedy recovery." Hadjar currently sits eighth in the Drivers' Championship. Team principal Laurent Mekies has often praised the Frenchman, noting that he has been Verstappen's closest teammate for several seasons and that his performances have consistently reinforced Red Bull's dominance.
Red Bull have not yet confirmed whether Hadjar will retain his seat beyond the 2026 season, but his strong showings suggest the team will be inclined to keep him on the roster for 2027. Lawson's recent outings have been impressive.
At Zandvoort, he qualified only one‑tenth of a second behind Verstappen and finished the Dutch Grand Prix in seventh place – a stark improvement compared with his two early‑season Red Bull appearances in 2025, after which he was temporarily dropped. His steady pace and composure under pressure have earned him a reputation as a reliable backup driver.
Meanwhile, Tsunoda delivered a solid performance for the Racing Bulls, finishing just outside the points and outpacing full‑time driver Arvid Lindblad. The Japanese driver’s consistency adds depth to the team’s lineup and keeps the competition for future seats intense. The Italian Grand Prix weekend schedule is packed with support races and media events.
On Thursday, September 3, the drivers' press conference will start at 1 p.m., followed by the Paddock Uncut at 4 p.m. Friday, September 4, features F3 practice at 7.30 a.m., F2 practice at 8.55 a.m., and the first F1 practice session at 11 a.m. (officially starting at 11.30 a.m.). Qualifying sessions for F3 and F2 follow, and the second F1 practice session begins at 2.35 p.m.
The day concludes with The F1 Show at 4.15 p.m. and the Team Bosses' press conference at 5.20 p.m. Saturday, September 5, includes the F3 sprint at 8.25 a.m., the third F1 practice session at 11.15 a.m.
(starting at 11.30 a.m.), the F2 sprint at 1.10 p.m., and the build‑up to the Italian Grand Prix qualifying at 2.15 p.m. Qualifying itself takes place at 3 p.m., with Ted’s Qualifying Notebook airing at 5 p.m.
Sunday, September 6, kicks off with the F3 feature race at 7.10 a.m., the F2 feature race at 8.40 a.m., and the Porsche Supercup race at 10.40 a.m. The Grand Prix build‑up begins at 12.30 p.m., followed by the main race at 2 p.m.
Post‑race coverage, including the chequered‑flag reaction and Ted’s Notebook, will be broadcast at 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. respectively. All sessions will also be available on Sky Sports Main Event.
Formula 1 returns to Monza this weekend for Ferrari’s home race, with live coverage on Sky Sports F1. Viewers can stream the event via NOW without a long‑term contract, offering the flexibility to cancel at any time. The combination of high‑speed action on the historic circuit and the drama surrounding driver line‑ups makes this Italian Grand Prix a must‑watch for motorsport fans worldwide.