Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekane reiterated that the priority remains Isack Hadjar's full recovery rather than hastening his comeback, with a series of assessments scheduled 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 injuring his wrist during a routine training session that took place as the championship resumed from its summer hiatus. In his stead, Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson has been called up to fill the vacant seat.
Mekane spoke after the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday, emphasizing that the progress of Hadjar's rehabilitation is proceeding according to plan. He added that a dedicated simulator run is slated for the coming days to gauge the Frenchman's 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 sustained," Mekane explained. "Therefore we will maintain the same measured approach we have been following." He continued, "We have just over a week to evaluate how he feels, to put him through the simulator and expose him to realistic constraints. If he reports that he is close to 100 percent, we will give him the green light. If he indicates that his healing is not yet complete, we will stick to our policy of putting his health first.
What we do not want is an early return that jeopardises his long‑term ability to perform at the highest level." The Azerbaijan Grand Prix, staged on the narrow, high‑speed streets of Baku, will start a day earlier than usual, with practice sessions beginning on Wednesday and the race itself on Saturday. It marks the opening round of a three‑race sprint that will see the championship move to Malaysia and Singapore over the following two weekends.
Lawson, who stepped up from the sister team Racing Bulls, is no stranger to the Red Bull environment. He briefly occupied a seat at the senior team at the start of the previous season, and his recent performances have helped him rebuild confidence and form.
In his short stint with the main squad he has qualified eighth on two occasions and secured points finishes at 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 challenging it is to jump into a different car and a different team, and he has met, if not exceeded, our expectations.
He collected valuable points in Madrid with a P6 and delivered a similar performance in Zandvoort. In Monza he would have likely achieved comparable results if not for the contact with Nico Hulkenberg that caused damage." Mekane added, "The picture is completely different from the early part of the 2025 season when he first joined the team. We are grateful and pleased with his progress." Beyond the immediate results, Mekane highlighted Lawson's development as a driver over the past year. "He continues to grow.
He is calm in the car and highly focused. He keeps things simple, both in his communication with the engineers and in his approach to extracting performance from the machinery.
He concentrates on the fundamentals, gets the basics right, and that is paying off. With more time in the car, he will be able to add a finer level of finesse, but his foundation is already very strong." The decision on Hadjar will be taken after the upcoming week of monitoring.
Should his wrist heal sufficiently and he feels ready after the simulator test, Red Bull could field him in Baku, giving him a chance to re‑join the championship before the triple‑header begins. If not, the team will keep him sidelined, allowing the injury to fully mend and avoiding any risk of chronic issues that could affect his performance for the remainder of the season. Fans can follow the live action on Sky Sports F1, which will broadcast the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and the subsequent races in Malaysia and Singapore. The coverage is also available via NOW, with a flexible subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
The weekend promises exciting racing on the iconic Baku circuit, and the storyline of Hadjar's potential return adds an extra layer of intrigue for supporters of the young French talent.