Isack Hadjar will be absent from the upcoming Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid as he continues his rehabilitation from a fractured wrist. The young French driver, who joined Red Bull Racing as a reserve and occasional race driver, suffered a hairline fracture in a wrist bone during a routine training session that involved boxing over the summer break. The injury forced him to miss the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, and now the Spanish event at the newly built Madring circuit. In Hadjar's place, Liam Lawson will step into the Red Bull car for a third consecutive race, partnering Max Verstappen for the weekend.
Lawson, the New Zealand talent who has been shuttling between Red Bull's junior programme and its sister team, Racing Bulls, has shown promise in his limited outings. He qualified only a tenth slower than Verstappen in Zandvoort and finished the Dutch race in seventh place, a marked improvement over his earlier 2025 performances when he was briefly dropped from the team.
Red Bull issued a statement confirming the driver change: "After racing for the team in Zandvoort and Monza, Liam will continue to drive alongside Max at this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid. The decision has been taken as Isack's recovery continues to progress positively. While he is not yet ready to return to the cockpit, he will be in Madrid supporting the team. Everyone at Red Bull Racing looks forward to welcoming Isack back behind the wheel very soon." Lawson's recent form has been a mix of highs and lows.
At Monza, he was knocked out in Q2 after being impeded by Oscar Piastri on his final flying lap. In the race itself, he started from the pit lane due to an engine penalty, then made contact with Audi's Nico Hulkenberg during an early standing‑restart, which necessitated a front‑wing change. Despite those setbacks, he managed to climb back to 14th place, while Verstappen secured a podium finish. Meanwhile, Yuki Tsunoda continues to race for Racing Bulls, delivering steady performances.
He finished ahead of his teammate Arvid Lindblad in the Dutch Grand Prix and earned a point by finishing 10th at Monza. The Monza result, however, is under scrutiny as Audi plans to appeal a standing‑restart incident that saw Tsunoda pull into the wrong grid slot, prompting an extra formation lap.
Tsunoda, who was released by Red Bull at the end of the previous season, remains optimistic about his future in Formula 1. Speaking ahead of the Italian Grand Prix, he said, "I'm free! Would love to hear those calls, but not yet.
It's good that things are going positive, at least. Obviously, my primary target is to be in Formula 1. Let's see. In this world anything can happen.
At the same time, it's also knowing that it's not easy to have a seat." The Spanish Grand Prix weekend is packed with supporting series action. The schedule includes F3 and F2 practice sessions, sprint races, and qualifying rounds, as well as press conferences and the popular "F1 Show" on Sky Sports. Highlights of the timetable are: - Thursday, 10 September – Drivers' press conference at 14:00, followed by the Paddock Uncut at 17:00. - Friday, 11 September – F3 practice at 08:50, F2 practice at 10:00, Spanish GP Practice One at 12:55, F2 qualifying at 12:55, Team Bosses' press conference at 14:40, Spanish GP Practice Two at 15:45, F3 qualifying at 17:20, and the F1 Show at 18:20.
- Saturday, 12 September – F3 sprint at 10:00, Spanish GP Practice Three at 11:30, F2 sprint at 13:10, qualifying build‑up at 14:15, Spanish GP qualifying at 15:00, F3 Feature Race 1 at 16:55, and Ted's Qualifying Notebook at 18:00. - Sunday, 13 September – F3 Feature Race 2 at 08:40, F2 Feature Race at 10:20, Grand Prix build‑up at 12:30, the Spanish Grand Prix itself at 14:00, Chequered Flag reaction at 16:00, and Ted's Notebook at 17:00. All sessions will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with the main event also available on Sky Sports Main Event.
Viewers can stream the coverage via NOW without a long‑term contract, cancelling at any time. Hadjar's absence underscores the physical risks that even routine fitness work can pose to elite drivers. Wrist injuries are particularly concerning in Formula 1, where drivers rely on precise hand control for gear changes, steering inputs, and managing the car's complex steering wheel controls. Red Bull's medical team has indicated that Hadjar's fracture is healing well, but they are exercising caution before allowing him back behind the wheel.
In the meantime, Lawson will gain valuable seat time, and Tsunoda will aim to add more points to his tally, keeping his name in the conversation for future drives. The Spanish Grand Prix itself promises exciting action, with Verstappen looking to extend his championship lead, while his rivals will be eager to capitalize on any mistake. The new Madring circuit, featuring a mix of high‑speed straights and technical corners, should test the drivers' skill and the teams' aerodynamic packages. Fans can expect a competitive weekend, with the added drama of driver line‑up changes and the ever‑present battle for points across the support categories.