Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekhié reiterated that the French driver Isack Hadjar’s rehabilitation remains on track and that the squad will not rush him back to competition until they are fully confident in his fitness. The decision will be taken after a series of assessments, including a simulator run, before a final verdict on his participation in the upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix is made. Hadjar has been absent from the grid for the past three 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 was called upon to fill the vacant seat.
Speaking after the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday, Mekhié explained that the recovery timetable is proceeding as expected. He added that a simulator session has been scheduled to gauge how the young driver copes with realistic race‑like conditions and to help the engineers decide whether he is ready to return for the street race in Baku.
"There is nothing wrong with Isack’s recovery. We have learned that his injury is fairly typical for the type of trauma he sustained," Mekhié said. "Therefore we will stick to the same methodical approach we have been using. In a week’s time we will reassess the situation." He emphasized that the team now has just over a week to monitor the driver’s progress, to see how he feels, and to put him through a simulator test that replicates the physical constraints of an actual Grand Prix weekend.
"If he feels close to 100 percent, we will give him the green light. If he indicates that his wrist has not fully healed, we will continue to put his long‑term health above any short‑term gain. The last thing we want is an early return that could jeopardise his ability to perform at his best in the future." The Azerbaijan Grand Prix, staged on the Baku city circuit, will start a day earlier than usual, with practice scheduled for Wednesday and the race on Saturday.
It marks the opening round 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 over Hadjar’s duties. The New Zealander previously enjoyed a brief two‑race spell with the senior Red Bull outfit at the start of the last season, and he now returns to a seat he once occupied.
Yuki Tsunoda continues to race for Racing Bulls. Since his promotion, Lawson has twice qualified eighth and has scored points in both Zandvoort and the Madrid Grand Prix, 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, yet he has met, if not exceeded, our expectations. He secured valuable points in Madrid with a P6 finish, repeated that performance in Zandvoort, and would likely have done the same in Monza if not for the contact with Nico Hulkenberg that caused damage." Mekhié continued, "The picture is completely different from the early part of the 2025 season when he first joined the team.
We are grateful for his contributions and pleased with his progress." Over the past year Lawson has rebuilt his confidence and form within the Racing Bulls programme, enjoying a steady stream of points before his unexpected call‑up to the senior Red Bull squad. "He continues to develop as a driver," Mekhié added, noting that he has worked with Lawson across both Red Bull teams. "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 his own performance and the car’s capabilities. He concentrates on the fundamentals, gets the basics right, and that approach is yielding results.
With more seat time, he will inevitably add a higher degree of finesse to his driving, but his current foundation is already very strong." The upcoming race weekend in Baku will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, kicking off the triple‑header that runs from 24 to 26 September. Viewers can stream the coverage via NOW, with the flexibility to cancel at any time. The race will be run on a Saturday, a departure from the traditional Sunday schedule, adding an extra layer of excitement to the already thrilling street circuit.