Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekane reiterated that the French driver Isack Hadjar’s rehabilitation will remain the top priority, and the squad will not rush him back to the cockpit before he is fully ready. The team has scheduled a series of assessments, including a simulator run, to gauge his condition before deciding whether he can take part in 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 as the championship resumed from its summer hiatus. In his stead, Liam Lawson, who drives for the sister team Racing Bulls, has been drafted to fill the vacant seat. Speaking after the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday, Mekane explained that Hadjar’s recovery is progressing exactly as the medical team had anticipated.
He added that a dedicated simulator session is slated for the coming days, which will help the engineers and doctors evaluate how the young driver copes with the physical demands of a race car under realistic conditions. "There is nothing wrong with Isack’s recovery. It’s essentially a normal timeline for the type of injury he sustained," Mekane said.
"We will therefore maintain the same measured approach we have been following. "We have a little over a week to monitor his progress, to see how he feels, and then to put him in the simulator so we can expose him to the real‑world constraints of a race weekend.
If he feels close to 100 percent, we will give him the green light. If he indicates that his wrist has not yet fully healed, we will stick to our plan and keep his health first.
"What we do not want is to bring him back too early and jeopardise his long‑term ability to perform at 100 percent." The Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which takes place on the street circuit of Baku, will start a day earlier than usual, with practice sessions scheduled for Wednesday and the race on Saturday. This event kicks off a three‑race swing that will see the championship move to Malaysia and Singapore over the following two weekends. Lawson, who stepped up from Racing Bulls to cover for Hadjar, returned to a seat he briefly occupied during a short‑lived two‑race stint at the start of the previous season. Meanwhile, Yuki Tsunoda continues to race for Racing Bulls.
Since his promotion, Lawson has delivered solid performances, qualifying eighth on two occasions and scoring points at both Zandvoort and the Madrid circuit, where he finished sixth. Mekane praised his substitute driver, noting the challenges inherent in switching teams and machinery mid‑season.
"He has done an excellent job," Mekane remarked. "We all know how difficult it is to jump into a different car and a different team, and he has exceeded our expectations. He collected valuable points in Madrid with a P6 finish, replicated that performance in Zandvoort, and would likely have done the same in Monza if not for the contact with Nico Hulkenberg that caused damage. "Overall, his performance has been very impressive, especially when you compare it to his early‑season outings in 2025.
We are grateful and pleased with what he has achieved." Lawson’s confidence and form have steadily improved during his time with Racing Bulls over the past year. Before being called up to the senior Red Bull seat, he was already enjoying a consistent points‑scoring run. Mekane, who has worked closely with Lawson across both Red Bull outfits, highlighted the driver’s calm demeanor and focus.
"He continues to develop as a driver," Mekane added. "He remains composed in the car and very focused on the task at hand. Whether it’s a conscious effort on his part or not, he has managed to keep 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 paying off.
Of course, with more time behind the wheel, there is room to add another layer of finesse, but his foundation is already very strong." The upcoming Azerbaijan race will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, marking the start of a triple‑header that runs from September 24 to 26, with the Baku event taking place on a Saturday. Viewers can stream the coverage via NOW, with the flexibility to cancel at any time.
In summary, Red Bull remains committed to a cautious and thorough rehabilitation process for Isack Hadjar, ensuring that his return to competition is dictated by his health rather than external pressures. Meanwhile, Liam Lawson’s interim performances have provided the team with valuable points and demonstrated his adaptability, keeping the Red Bull stable competitive as the season moves into its final, high‑stakes stretch.