Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekanes explained that the squad will keep prioritising Isack Hadjar's rehabilitation rather than hurrying his comeback, and that a thorough assessment will take place before a decision is made about his participation in next weekend's 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 as the championship emerged from its summer hiatus.
In his stead, Racing Bulls’ driver Liam Lawson has been called up to fill the vacant seat. Speaking after the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday, Mekanes said the Frenchman’s healing process is proceeding according to the planned timetable and that a simulator run has been scheduled to gauge his readiness for a possible return in Baku.
"There is nothing wrong with Isack's recovery. It appears to be following the normal pattern for the type of injury he has," Mekanes remarked. "We will therefore maintain the current approach and continue to monitor his situation closely." He added that the team has a little more than a week to evaluate the situation, noting that the upcoming simulator session will expose Hadjar to realistic constraints and help the engineers understand how his wrist feels under race‑like conditions. "If after the simulator work he feels close to 100 percent, we will give him the green light.
If he indicates that his recovery is still incomplete, we will stick to our original plan and keep his health as the top priority," Mekanes said. "We do not want an early return to jeopardise his long‑term ability to perform at full capacity." The Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which takes place on Baku’s street circuit, will start a day earlier than usual, with practice scheduled for Wednesday and the race on Saturday. It marks the first round of a three‑race sprint that will continue with events in Malaysia and Singapore over the following two weekends.
Lawson, who stepped up from the sister team Racing Bulls, is back in a seat he briefly occupied at the start of last season during a short‑lived two‑race stint. His teammate at Racing Bulls, Yuki Tsunoda, continues to run for the team.
The New Zealander has already shown his worth, qualifying eighth on two occasions and scoring points at both Zandvoort and the Spanish round in Madrid, where he finished sixth. "He has done a very good job," Mekanes praised. "We all know how challenging it is to jump into a different team and a different car, and he has met, if not exceeded, our expectations. He collected valuable points in Madrid with a P6 finish, repeated the performance in Zandvoort, and would likely have done the same in Monza if not for the contact with Nico Hulkenberg that caused damage." Mekanes emphasized that Lawson’s recent form and confidence have been rebuilt during his time with Racing Bulls, and that he was already enjoying a consistent points‑scoring season before the unexpected call‑up to the senior Red Bull lineup.
"He continues to develop as a driver," Mekanes continued, noting his long‑standing relationship with Lawson across both Red Bull teams. "He remains calm in the car and very focused. He keeps things simple, both in his communication with the team and in how he approaches the car’s performance." The team principal highlighted Lawson’s methodical approach: "He concentrates on the fundamentals, gets the basics right, and that strategy is delivering results. With more time behind the wheel, he can add another layer of finesse, but his current strength lies in his solid, straightforward style." The upcoming race weekend will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix kicking off a triple‑header of races from 24 to 26 September.
Viewers can stream the coverage via NOW, with no long‑term contract required and the option to cancel at any time.