Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekhié reiterated that the French driver Isack Hadjar’s rehabilitation will remain the top priority, and the team will not rush him back onto the grid. The decision on whether Hadjar will be fit to compete at next weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix will be made after a series of assessments, including a simulator run designed to gauge his readiness.
Hadjar has been absent from the last three Formula 1 events after injuring his wrist during a routine training session that took place just before the sport resumed following the summer hiatus. In his stead, Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson has been called up to fill the vacant seat.
Mekhié spoke after the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday, explaining that Hadjar’s recovery is progressing exactly as expected. He said the team has scheduled a simulator session to simulate real‑world conditions and to help determine if the young driver could return for the Baku street circuit. "There is nothing wrong with Isack’s recovery.
We have learned that this type of injury follows a fairly normal timeline," Mekhié said. "Therefore we will stick with the same approach we have been using. In a week’s time we will reassess the situation." He added that the team has a little more than a week to monitor Hadjar’s condition, evaluate how he feels, and then put him through the simulator to expose him to the physical constraints of a race car.
"If he feels close to 100 percent, we will give him the green light. If he feels the healing is not complete, we will keep our focus on his recovery," Mekhié explained. "We do not want an early comeback to jeopardise his long‑term ability to return at full strength." The Azerbaijan Grand Prix, held on the city streets of Baku, will start a day earlier than usual, with practice scheduled for Wednesday and the race on Saturday. It marks the first leg of a three‑race swing that will continue with events in Malaysia and Singapore over the following two weekends.
Lawson, who stepped up from sister team Racing Bulls, is making his second appearance for the senior Red Bull outfit. He previously filled a seat for a brief two‑race stint at the start of the previous season. Meanwhile, Yuki Tsunoda continues to race for Racing Bulls.
The New Zealander has already shown his worth, qualifying eighth on two occasions and scoring points at both Zandvoort and the Madrid street circuit, where he finished sixth. "He has done a very good job," Mekhié praised.
"We all know how challenging it is to jump into a different team and a different car, and he has met, if not exceeded, our expectations." Mekhié highlighted Lawson’s performances: "He collected valuable points in Madrid with a P6, repeated the feat in Zandvoort, and would likely have done the same in Monza if not for the contact with Nico Hulkenberg that caused damage." The team principal emphasized that Lawson’s contributions are especially noteworthy given the stark contrast to the early part of the 2025 season when he first joined Red Bull. "We are grateful and pleased with what he has achieved," Mekhié said. Over the past year, Lawson has rebuilt his confidence and form at Racing Bulls, enjoying a consistent points‑scoring run before being called up for this unexpected senior‑team appearance. "He continues to develop as a driver," Mekhié added, noting that he has worked with Lawson across both Red Bull squads.
"He remains calm in the car and very focused." Mekhié praised Lawson’s methodical approach: "He keeps things simple, both in how he collaborates with the team and how he extracts performance from the car. He concentrates on the fundamentals, and that strategy is paying off. With more time in the car, he can add another layer of finesse, but his current strength lies in mastering the basics." The upcoming race weekend will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix kicking off a triple‑header of races from 24‑26 September. Viewers can stream the coverage via NOW, with the flexibility to cancel at any time.
The Baku event will be run on a Saturday, marking a slight shift from the traditional Sunday schedule and adding an extra layer of excitement to the closing stretch of the season.