Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has reiterated that the French driver Isack Hadjar’s rehabilitation remains on track and that the squad will not rush his return to competition. The team plans to carry out a series of assessments, including a simulator run, before deciding whether Hadjar will be cleared to race at the upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Hadjar has been absent from the grid for the past three events after suffering a wrist injury during a routine training session that took place just before the sport resumed following its summer hiatus.
In his stead, Racing Bulls’ driver Liam Lawson stepped up to fill the vacant seat. Speaking after the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday, Mekimes explained that the recovery process is proceeding as expected. He added that a dedicated simulator session has been scheduled to gauge Hadjar’s readiness for a potential comeback in Baku.
"There is nothing wrong with Isack’s recovery. It appears to be a typical timeline for the type of injury he sustained," Mekies said.
"We will continue with the same measured approach we have been using. "We have a little more than a week to monitor how he feels, then we will put him in the simulator to expose him to realistic constraints.
If he feels close to 100 percent, we will give him the green light. If not, we will stick to our principle of putting his health first. "We do not want an early return to jeopardise his long‑term ability to perform at full capacity." The Azerbaijan Grand Prix, contested on the street circuit of Baku, will start a day earlier than usual, with practice sessions slated for Wednesday and the race itself on Saturday.
This event kicks off a three‑race sprint that will see the championship move on to Malaysia and Singapore over the following two weekends. Lawson, who previously drove for the sister team Racing Bulls, has taken over Hadjar’s duties for the past three rounds. The New Zealander previously enjoyed a brief two‑race spell with Red Bull at the start of last season before returning to his original seat.
Meanwhile, Yuki Tsunoda continues to race for Racing Bulls. Lawson has already demonstrated his value, qualifying eighth on two occasions and scoring points in both Zandvoort and the Spanish round, where he finished sixth.
"He has done a very good job," Mekies praised. "Switching to a different team and a different car is never easy, but he has exceeded our expectations. He earned valuable points in Madrid with a P6 finish and delivered a similar performance in Zandvoort.
In Monza, he would have likely matched those results if not for the contact with Nico Hulkenberg and the resulting damage. "Overall, his performance has been impressive, especially compared with his early‑season outings in 2025. We are grateful and pleased with his contributions." Over the past year, Lawson has rebuilt his form and confidence within the Red Bull ecosystem. He entered the current season with a steady points‑scoring rhythm before being called up for a temporary senior Red Bull assignment.
"He continues to develop as a driver," Mekies added, noting his long‑standing relationship with Lawson across both Red Bull outfits. "He remains calm behind the wheel and highly focused. He keeps things simple, both in his communication with the team and in his approach to extracting performance from the car.
"He concentrates on the fundamentals, gets the basics right, and that strategy is paying off. With more seat time, he will inevitably add a higher degree of finesse, but his current strength lies in his consistency and composure." The Azerbaijan Grand Prix will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, marking the start of a three‑race weekend that runs from September 24 to 26.
Fans can stream the coverage via NOW without a contract and cancel at any time. The race’s Saturday schedule, unusual for Formula 1, adds an extra layer of excitement as the championship heads into the final stretch of the season.