Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekane explained that the squad will keep focusing on Isack Hadjar's rehabilitation rather than rushing him back onto the grid, with a series of assessments scheduled before a final decision is made about his participation in next weekend's Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Hadjar has been absent from the last three events after hurting his wrist during a routine training session that took place as the championship emerged from its summer hiatus. In his place, Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson has stepped into the seat.
Mekane spoke after the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday, noting that Hadjar's healing process is proceeding according to the plan they set out. He added that a simulator run has been arranged to gauge how ready the French driver might be for a possible return in Baku. "There is nothing wrong with Isack's recovery.
I think we have learned that it's fundamentally a normal time for the sort of injuries he has," Mekane said. "So we will continue with the same approach and what we have. We will evaluate the situation in a week's time." The team principal emphasized that they have a little more than a full week to monitor Hadjar's condition, watch how he feels, and then put him through a simulator session that mimics the real‑world constraints of a street race.
"If he feels close to 100 percent, we go for it. If he feels the recovery is not completed, we will stick to our approach to put his recovery first. What we don't want to do is, by having an early return, compromise his long‑term capacity to come back to 100 percent," he explained.
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix, staged on the narrow Baku waterfront circuit, will start a day earlier than usual, with practice slated for Wednesday and the race on Saturday. It kicks off a three‑race sprint that will see events in Malaysia and Singapore follow on the next two weekends. This compressed schedule makes the decision about Hadjar's fitness even more critical, as the team does not want to jeopardise the driver’s long‑term health for short‑term gains.
In the meantime, Liam Lawson has been promoted from the sister team Racing Bulls to fill Hadjar's vacancy. Lawson, a New Zealander, previously enjoyed a brief two‑race stint with the senior Red Bull outfit at the start of last season, a period that ended abruptly due to circumstances beyond his control.
Yuki Tsunoda has been piloting the Racing Bulls car in the meantime. Lawson has already shown his worth, qualifying eighth on two occasions and scoring points at both Zandvoort and the Madrid street circuit, where he finished sixth.
"I think he's done a very good job," Mekane praised. "We all know how difficult it is to jump to a different team, to a different car, and I think he has done that to the best of what could have been our expectations. He has taken some very important points in Madrid with P6.
He did the same in Zandvoort, and in Monza he would have done something similar without the contact with Nico Hulkenberg and the damage." Mekane continued, "So, I think he did a very good job. Again, very different pictures compared to the first races of 2025 when he was in the team, so we are thankful and happy with that." Lawson's form and confidence have been rebuilding steadily at Racing Bulls over the past year, and he was already enjoying a consistent points‑scoring run before his unexpected call‑up to the senior Red Bull squad.
"I think he has continued to grow as a driver," Mekane added, noting his long‑standing work with Lawson across both Red Bull entities. "He's very calm in the car; he's very focused. He's certainly making… I don't know if he makes an effort or not, but he's certainly managed to keep things simple in the way he tracks with the team and in the way he tackles his own performance and the car performance.
So, he's focused on the essentials; he tries to get the basics right, and it's working for him. Of course, with more time in the car, you can then get to another degree of finesse, maybe. But I think that, of course, is very, very strong." The decision on whether Hadjar will line up for the Baku race will hinge on a combination of medical reports, his subjective feeling of readiness, and the data gathered from the simulator run. Red Bull's philosophy, as reiterated by Mekane, is to avoid a premature comeback that could jeopardise the driver’s long‑term performance and health.
The team prefers a measured approach that ensures Hadjar returns at full capacity rather than risking a setback that could sideline him for a longer period. Fans can follow the Azerbaijan Grand Prix live on Sky Sports F1, with the race kicking off a triple‑header of back‑to‑back events from September 24‑26.
The Baku race will be streamed via NOW, offering a contract‑free option that can be cancelled at any time. As the weekend approaches, all eyes will be on Red Bull's final verdict regarding Hadjar's status, while Lawson continues to prove his adaptability and skill in the senior seat, providing the team with a reliable backup while they await the Frenchman's recovery progress.