Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has reiterated that the team will keep Isack Hadjar's rehabilitation as the top priority, refusing to rush his comeback after the French driver suffered a wrist injury during a routine training session. The plan includes a series of medical and performance assessments before a final decision is made about his participation in the upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Hadjar has been sidelined for the past three rounds after injuring his wrist just before the sport resumed from the summer hiatus. In his absence, Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson has been called up to fill the vacant seat, stepping back into a role he briefly occupied earlier in the season.

Meanwhile, Yuki Tsunoda has continued to race for the sister team, Racing Bulls. Speaking to the media after the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday, Mekies emphasized that Hadjar's healing process is progressing exactly as expected. He explained that the team has scheduled a simulator run for the young driver, which will serve as a practical gauge of his readiness for a possible return at the Baku street circuit.

"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 has sustained," Mekies said. The Red Bull principal added that the team will maintain its current approach, giving Hadjar ample time to regain full strength. "We have a little over a week to monitor his condition, see how he feels, and then put him in the simulator to expose him to real‑world constraints.

If he feels close to 100 per cent, we will let him race. If not, we will stick to our philosophy of putting his long‑term health first," he explained.

Mekies warned against an early comeback that could jeopardise Hadjar's ability to perform at his peak in the future. "We do not want a premature return to compromise his long‑term capacity to be at 100 per cent," he said, underscoring the team's commitment to a sustainable recovery.

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which will be held on the Baku street circuit, is scheduled a day earlier than usual, with practice sessions set for Wednesday and the race on Saturday. This event marks the beginning of a three‑race swing that will continue with races in Malaysia and Singapore over the following two weekends. Lawson's performance in Hadjar's stead has been praised by Mekies.

The New Zealander, who moved up from Racing Bulls, has already shown he can adapt quickly to the senior Red Bull car. He previously achieved two eighth‑place qualifying positions and scored points at both Zandvoort and Madrid, where he finished sixth. "He has done a very good job," Mekies remarked.

"It is difficult to jump to a different team and a different car, but he has exceeded our expectations. He collected important points in Madrid with a P6 finish and delivered similar results at Zandvoort. In Monza he would have likely repeated that performance if not for the contact with Nico Hulkenberg and the resulting damage." Mekies highlighted the contrast between Lawson's early season outings in 2025 and his current form, noting the significant improvement and the team's gratitude for his contributions.

"The picture is completely different from the first races of 2025 when he was with the team. We are thankful and happy with his progress," he added.

Over the past year, Lawson has rebuilt his confidence and consistency at Racing Bulls, enjoying a steady points‑scoring season before his unexpected promotion to the senior Red Bull squad. Mekies, who has worked closely with Lawson across both Red Bull teams, observed that the driver has continued to develop his skills. "He is very calm in the car and highly focused.

He keeps things simple in his communication with the team and in how he approaches his performance and the car's behavior. He concentrates on the fundamentals and gets the basics right, which is clearly working for him," Mekies explained.

The team principal believes that with more seat time, Lawson can add an extra layer of finesse to his driving style. "With more time in the car, you can reach another degree of finesse, maybe, but his current strength is already very strong," Mekies concluded.

Fans can watch the Azerbaijan Grand Prix live on Sky Sports F1, as the race kicks off a triple‑header of events from September 24 to 26. The Baku race will be held on a Saturday, and viewers can stream the coverage via NOW with the option to cancel at any time, ensuring flexible access to the high‑octane action.