Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekhié emphasized that the French driver Isack Hadjar’s rehabilitation will continue to take precedence over any hasty return to racing. The team has scheduled a series of assessments, including a simulator run, before deciding whether Hadjar will be cleared to compete at next weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Hadjar has been absent from the grid for three consecutive events after injuring his wrist during a routine training session that took place just before the sport resumed after its summer hiatus.
In his stead, Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson has stepped up to fill the vacant seat. Speaking after the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday, Mekhié confirmed that the recovery process is proceeding as expected. He outlined that a dedicated simulator session will be used as a diagnostic tool to gauge Hadjar’s readiness for a possible comeback in Baku. "There is nothing wrong with Isack's recovery.
I think we have learned that it is a fairly typical timeline for the type of injury he has suffered," Mekhié explained. "Therefore, we will maintain our current approach and continue to monitor his progress closely." He added that the team has a little more than a week to evaluate the situation, observe how Hadjar feels, and then place him in the simulator to expose him to realistic constraints. "If he feels close to 100 per cent, we will go ahead.
If he feels the recovery is not yet complete, we will stick to our approach and keep his health first," Mekhié said. The principle behind this cautious stance is to avoid jeopardising Hadjar’s long‑term performance by forcing an early return.
"What we don't want to do is, by having an early return, compromise his long‑term capacity to come back to 100 per cent," Mekhié warned. The Azerbaijan Grand Prix, staged on Baku’s demanding street circuit, will start a day earlier than usual, with practice sessions scheduled for Wednesday and the race on Saturday.
This event marks the opening round of a three‑race sprint that will continue with events in Malaysia and Singapore over the following two weekends. In the meantime, Lawson has been promoted from the sister team Racing Bulls to cover Hadjar’s duties. The New Zealander previously enjoyed a brief two‑race stint with the senior Red Bull team at the start of last season.
Yuki Tsunoda has been handling the Racing Bulls car. Lawson has already demonstrated his capability, qualifying eighth on two occasions and scoring points at both Zandvoort and Madrid, where he finished sixth. Mekhié praised his performance, noting the difficulty of adapting to a new team and car mid‑season.
"I think he's done a very good job," the team principal said. "We all know how challenging it is to jump to a different team, to a different car, and he has met, if not exceeded, our expectations." He highlighted Lawson’s strong point‑scoring runs, especially the P6 finish in Madrid and a similar result in Zandvoort. Mekhié added that Lawson would likely have achieved a comparable outcome in Monza had it not been for contact with Nico Hulkenberg, which caused damage to the car. "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," Mekhié continued. Over the past year, Lawson has rebuilt his form and confidence at Racing Bulls, enjoying a steady stream of points before his unexpected temporary promotion to the senior Red Bull squad. "I think he has continued to grow as a driver," Mekhié added, noting his calm demeanor and focus behind the wheel.
"He's very calm in the car; he's very focused. He certainly keeps things simple in how he works with the team and tackles his own performance as well as the car’s performance. He concentrates on the basics, gets the fundamentals right, and it’s paying off. Of course, with more time in the car, he can add another layer of finesse," Mekhié explained.
The upcoming Azerbaijan race will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, kicking off a triple‑header of Grand Prix events from September 24 to 26. Viewers can stream the coverage via NOW, with the flexibility of no long‑term contract and the ability to cancel at any time. The race weekend promises intense on‑track action, and Red Bull will be closely watching Lawson’s performance while awaiting the final decision on Hadjar’s return, ensuring that the Frenchman’s health remains the top priority before any competitive comeback.