Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekane emphasized that the team will keep Isack Hadjar's rehabilitation as the top priority, refusing to accelerate his comeback before he is fully ready. The organization has scheduled a series of assessments, including a simulator run, to determine whether the French driver can safely take part in the upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Hadjar has been absent from the grid for three consecutive rounds after injuring his wrist during a routine training session that took place just before the sport resumed following the summer hiatus.
In his stead, Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson has stepped into the seat, providing a stop‑gap solution while the team awaits news on Hadjar's condition. After the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday, Mekane addressed the media and confirmed that Hadjar's healing process is proceeding according to the plan that was originally set out. He added that a dedicated simulator session has been arranged to gauge the young driver's readiness for a potential 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," Mekane said. "So we will continue with the same approach and what we have. We will evaluate the situation in a week's time." He went on to explain that the team now has a little more than a full week to monitor Hadjar's progress, assess how he feels, and then place him in the simulator to expose him to realistic car dynamics and track constraints.
"If he feels close to 100 percent, we will give him the green light. If he feels the recovery is not completed, we will stick to our approach and 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," Mekane added. The Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which takes place on the street circuit of Baku, will start a day earlier than usual, with practice sessions scheduled for Wednesday and the race on Saturday.
This event marks the first leg of a three‑race swing that will continue with Malaysia and Singapore over the next two weekends. Lawson, who moved up from the sister team Racing Bulls to fill Hadjar's vacancy, has previously tasted a brief, turbulent two‑race stint with the senior Red Bull squad at the start of last season. Meanwhile, Yuki Tsunoda remains in the Racing Bulls lineup.
The New Zealander has already shown his worth, qualifying eighth on two occasions and scoring points at both Zandvoort and Madrid, where he finished sixth. "I think he's done a very good job," Mekane praised.
"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." Mekane continued, "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 steady stream of points finishes before his unexpected call‑up to the senior Red Bull car.
"I think he has continued to grow as a driver," Mekane observed, noting that he has worked with Lawson across both Red Bull outfits. "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." Mekane highlighted Lawson's methodical approach: "He focuses 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 kicking off a triple‑header of events from September 24‑26. Viewers can stream the coverage via NOW, with the flexibility to cancel at any time.
The team will continue to monitor Hadjar's progress throughout the week, using both medical assessments and on‑track simulations to make a final decision about his participation in Baku. The overarching goal remains clear: protect the driver's long‑term health and ensure that when he does return, he can compete at his full potential without lingering setbacks.