Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekhié reiterated that the French driver Isack Hadjar’s rehabilitation will continue to take precedence over any rush to get him back on the grid. The team plans a series of assessments in the coming days before deciding whether the young racer will be cleared for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix next weekend. Hadjar has been absent from the last three rounds after injuring his wrist during a routine training session that took place just as the championship emerged from its summer hiatus. In his stead, Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson has been called up to fill the vacant seat.
Speaking after the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday, Mekhié explained that the recovery process is proceeding according to schedule. He added that a dedicated simulator run has been arranged to gauge Hadjar’s readiness for a possible return in Baku.
"There is nothing wrong with Isack’s recovery. We have learned that the timeline we are seeing is typical for the type of injury he sustained," Mekhié said. "Therefore we will maintain the same methodical approach we have been using." He continued, "We have just over a week to monitor his condition, to see how he feels, and then to put him in the simulator so we can expose him to realistic constraints. If he feels close to 100 percent, we will give him the green light.
If he tells us the healing is not yet complete, we will stick to our policy of putting his health first. The last thing we want is an early comeback that could jeopardise his long‑term ability to perform at full capacity." The Azerbaijan Grand Prix, staged on the street circuit of Baku, will start a day earlier than usual, with practice scheduled for the upcoming Wednesday and the race on Saturday. It marks the opening 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 the sister team Racing Bulls, has taken on Hadjar’s duties. The New Zealander previously enjoyed a brief two‑race spell in the senior Red Bull seat at the start of last season, and he now returns to a role he held earlier in his career.
Yuki Tsunoda continues to drive for Racing Bulls. Since his promotion, Lawson has twice qualified eighth and has scored points at both the Dutch and Spanish rounds, finishing sixth in Madrid. Mekhié praised his performance, stating, "He has done a very good job.
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. He collected valuable points in Madrid with a P6 finish and delivered a similar result at Zandvoort.
In Monza he would have achieved the same if not for the contact with Nico Hulkenberg and the resulting damage." The team principal added, "His results are a stark contrast to the early part of the 2025 season when he was still finding his footing, so we are grateful and pleased with his progress." Lawson’s confidence and form have steadily improved during his time with Racing Bulls over the past year, and he was already enjoying a consistent points‑scoring rhythm before the unexpected call‑up to the senior Red Bull car. "He continues to develop as a driver," Mekhié observed, noting that he has worked with Lawson at both Red Bull outfits.
"He remains calm behind the wheel and highly focused. He may not always be consciously trying to improve, but he certainly keeps things simple in his communication with the team and in how he approaches both his own performance and the car’s capabilities. He concentrates on the fundamentals, gets the basics right, and that approach is paying off.
With more time in the car, we expect him to add another layer of finesse, but his current strength is already impressive." The upcoming race weekend will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix kicking off a triple‑header of events from September 24‑26. Viewers can stream the coverage via NOW, with no long‑term contract required and the option to cancel at any time.