Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has reiterated that the French driver Isack Hadjar’s rehabilitation will remain the top priority, and the team will not rush his comeback. The organization plans to conduct a series of assessments, including a simulator run, before deciding whether Hadjar will be cleared to compete at the upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Hadjar has been absent from the grid for three consecutive events after he suffered a wrist injury during a routine training session that took place just before the sport resumed following its summer hiatus. In his stead, Liam Lawson, who races for the sister team Racing Bulls, stepped into the Red Bull seat.

Mekies spoke after the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday, emphasizing that Hadjar’s recuperation is progressing as expected. He outlined that a dedicated simulator session is scheduled to gauge the young driver’s readiness for a possible return in Baku.

"There is nothing wrong with Isack's recovery. I think we have learned that it's fundamentally a normal time for the sort of injuries he has," Mekies said. "So, we will continue with the same approach and what we have. We will evaluate the situation in a week's time." He added that the team has a little more than a full week to monitor Hadjar’s condition, observe how he feels, and then place him in the simulator to expose him to realistic constraints.

"If he feels close to 100 percent, we go for it. If he feels the recovery is not completed, we will stick to our approach to put his recovery first.

What we don't want to do is, by having an early return, compromise his long‑term capacity to come back to 100 percent," Mekies explained. The Azerbaijan Grand Prix, contested on the street circuit of Baku, will start a day earlier than usual, with practice scheduled for the coming Wednesday and the race on Saturday. This event kicks off a three‑week sprint of races, followed by events in Malaysia and Singapore.

Liam Lawson, who was promoted from Racing Bulls, has taken over Hadjar’s duties. The New Zealander previously filled a short‑lived two‑race stint at the start of the last season and now finds himself back in a Red Bull‑spec car. Yuki Tsunoda continues to drive for Racing Bulls. Lawson has already shown his adaptability, qualifying eighth on two occasions and scoring points at both Zandvoort and the Madrid street circuit, where he finished sixth.

Mekies praised Lawson’s performance, noting the difficulty of switching to a different team and car mid‑season. "I think he's done a very good job.

We all know how difficult it is to jump to a different team, to a different car, and I think he has done that to the best of what could have been our expectations. He has taken some very important points in Madrid with a P6. He did the same in Zandvoort, and in Monza he would have done something similar without the contact with Nico Hulkenberg and the damage.

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." Over the past year, Lawson has rebuilt his form and confidence at Racing Bulls, enjoying a consistent points‑scoring season before his unexpected promotion to the senior Red Bull seat. Mekies, who has worked closely with Lawson across both Red Bull teams, highlighted the driver’s steady progress. "I think he has continued to grow as a driver.

He's very calm in the car; he's very focused. He's certainly making... I don't know if he makes an effort or not, but he's certainly managed to keep things simple in the way he tracks with the team and in the way he tackles his own performance and the car performance. So, he's focused on the essentials; he tries to get the basics right, and it's working for him.

Of course, with more time in the car, you can then get to another degree of finesse, maybe. But I think that, of course, is very, very strong." The upcoming race weekend will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix marking the start of a triple‑header that runs from September 24 to 26. Viewers can stream the coverage via NOW, with flexible subscription options that allow cancellation at any time.

The focus remains on ensuring Hadjar’s health is fully restored before any decision is made about his return, while Lawson continues to prove his capability in a top‑tier car during this pivotal period for the Red Bull program.