Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies reiterated that the French driver Isack Hadjar’s rehabilitation will remain the top priority, and the team will not rush him back onto the grid before they are certain he is fully ready. The decision on whether Hadjar will line up for the upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix will be taken after a series of assessments, including a dedicated simulator run, scheduled for the week ahead. Hadjar has been absent from the last three Formula One weekends after suffering a wrist injury during a routine training session that took place just as the championship was returning from its summer hiatus.
In his stead, Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson has been called up to fill the vacant seat. Speaking after the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday, Mekies confirmed that Hadjar’s healing process is proceeding according to the plan laid out by the medical team.
He added that a simulator session has been arranged to gauge how the young driver feels behind the wheel and to test his physical response to the stresses of a full‑distance race. "There is nothing wrong with Isack's recovery.
We have learned that the timeline we are seeing is typical for the type of injury he sustained," Mekies explained. "Therefore we will stick to the same methodical approach we have been using. "We have just over a week to monitor his condition, to see how he feels day‑by‑day, and then we will put him in the simulator to expose him to realistic constraints. If he feels close to 100 percent, we will give him the green light.
If he indicates that his wrist is still not at full strength, we will keep the focus on his recovery. "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 around Baku’s historic waterfront, will start a day earlier than usual this year, with practice sessions slated for Wednesday and the race itself on Saturday. This event kicks off a three‑weekend sprint of back‑to‑back races, followed by events in Malaysia and Singapore the next two weekends. Lawson, who normally drives for the sister team Racing Bulls, stepped up to the Red Bull seat to cover for Hadjar.
The New Zealander previously had a brief, ill‑fated two‑race stint with the senior team at the start of the previous season. Meanwhile, Yuki Tsunoda continued his duties with Racing Bulls. Lawson has already shown his worth, qualifying eighth on two occasions and scoring points in both Zandvoort and Madrid, where he finished sixth.
Mekies praised his performance, saying, "He has done a very good job. We all know how difficult it is to jump into a different team and a different car, and he has exceeded our expectations.
"He collected valuable points in Madrid with a P6 finish, replicated that performance in Zandvoort, and would have done similarly in Monza if not for the contact with Nico Hulkenberg that caused damage." The team principal highlighted the contrast between Lawson’s early 2025 outings with Red Bull and his recent form, adding, "He has rebuilt his confidence at Racing Bulls over the past year and was already enjoying a consistent points‑scoring season before his unexpected temporary senior return." Mekies also commented on Lawson’s development as a driver, noting, "He continues to grow. He is calm in the car and very focused. He keeps things simple in his communication with the team and in how he approaches the car’s performance.
He concentrates on the basics, gets the fundamentals right, and that is paying off. With more time in the car, he can add another layer of finesse, but his current strength is already very solid." The upcoming race will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix marking the start of a triple‑header that runs from 24 to 26 September. Viewers can stream the coverage via NOW, with a flexible contract that can be cancelled at any time.
The Red Bull team will continue to monitor Hadjar’s progress throughout the week, using both medical data and simulator feedback to decide whether the Frenchman can safely rejoin the grid for the high‑speed, high‑stakes streets of Baku.