Red Bull’s team principal, Laurent Mekies, has reiterated that the French driver Isack Hadjar’s rehabilitation is proceeding as expected, and the squad will not rush him back onto the grid before a thorough assessment is completed. The decision on whether Hadjar will compete at the upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku will be made after a series of evaluations, including a dedicated simulator session designed to gauge his readiness. Hadjar has been absent from the last three Formula 1 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 place, Racing Bulls’ driver Liam Lawson has stepped into the Red Bull seat, providing the team with a capable stand‑in while the young Frenchman recovers. Speaking after the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday, Mekies emphasized that the recovery timeline is on track. He explained that a simulator run has been scheduled for the coming week to simulate real‑world conditions and to help the medical and engineering staff determine how close Hadjar is to a full return. “There is nothing wrong with Isack’s recovery.
It’s a fairly typical timeframe for the type of injury he has sustained,” Mekies said. “We will continue with the same approach we have taken so far.” He added that the team now has a little more than a week to monitor Hadjar’s condition, assess his feedback, and put him through the simulator to expose him to the physical constraints of an F1 car. “If he feels he is close to 100 percent, we will give him the green light. If he indicates that his healing is not yet complete, we will stick to our principle of putting his recovery first,” Mekies explained.
“We do not want an early comeback to jeopardise his long‑term ability to perform at the highest level.” The Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which will be contested on Baku’s street circuit, is scheduled to start a day earlier than usual, with practice sessions slated for Wednesday and the race itself on Saturday. This event marks the opening round of a three‑race sprint that will continue with races in Malaysia and Singapore over the following two weekends. In the meantime, Lawson has taken on the challenge of moving from the sister team Racing Bulls to the senior Red Bull outfit. The New Zealander previously filled a temporary seat at the start of the 2025 season, and his recent performances have helped to steady the team’s points haul.
In the interim, Yuki Tsunoda has been handling duties for Racing Bulls. Lawson’s recent form has been impressive: he qualified eighth on two occasions and scored points in both Zandvoort and the Madrid Grand Prix, where he finished sixth.
Mekies praised his contribution, stating, “He has done a very good job. It is not easy to jump into a different team and a different car, but he has met, and in many ways exceeded, our expectations.” Mekies highlighted specific achievements, noting that Lawson secured valuable points with a P6 finish in Madrid and delivered a comparable performance in Zandvoort. He also mentioned that Lawson would likely have achieved a similar result in Monza if not for contact with Nico Hulkenberg, which caused damage to the car.
“Overall, his performance has been a marked improvement compared with the early races of 2025 when he first joined the team,” Mekies added, expressing gratitude for the driver’s adaptability. Over the past year, Lawson has rebuilt his confidence and consistency at Racing Bulls, enjoying a steady stream of points before his unexpected promotion to the senior Red Bull seat. Mekies, who has worked closely with Lawson across both Red Bull entities, observed that the driver has continued to mature.
“He is very calm in the car and highly focused. He keeps things simple, both in his communication with the team and in how he approaches the car’s performance,” Mekies said.
According to Mekies, Lawson’s approach centers on mastering the fundamentals. “He concentrates on getting the basics right, and that strategy is paying off.
With more time behind the wheel, he can develop an even finer level of finesse, but his current strength lies in his solid foundation.” The upcoming Azerbaijan race will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, kicking off a triple‑header of events from September 24‑26. Fans can stream the action via NOW, with the flexibility to cancel at any time.
As the team finalises its decision on Hadjar’s participation, the focus remains on ensuring the young driver returns only when he is fully fit, preserving both his short‑term performance and long‑term career prospects.