Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has reiterated that the priority remains Isack Hadjar's full recovery rather than rushing him back onto the grid. The French driver has been sidelined for the past three rounds after injuring his wrist during a routine training session that took place as the championship emerged from its summer hiatus.
In his absence, Liam Lawson, who drives for the sister team Racing Bulls, has been called up to fill the vacant seat. Mekies addressed the media after the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday, confirming that Hadjar's rehabilitation is proceeding according to schedule. He explained that the team intends to run the young driver through a simulator program in the coming days to gauge his readiness for a possible return at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku.
"There is nothing wrong with Isack's recovery. We have learned that this type of injury follows a fairly predictable timeline," Mekies said.
"We will stick with the same method we have been using, and we will reassess the situation in about a week." The team has roughly a week—slightly more than a full seven days—to monitor how Hadjar feels, to run him in the simulator and to expose him to the physical constraints of a race car. "If he feels close to 100 percent, we will give him the green light. If he indicates that his wrist has not fully healed, we will keep him out and continue to put his long‑term health first," Mekies added.
He warned that an early comeback could jeopardise Hadjar's ability to perform at his peak later in the season. 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 opening round of a three‑race sprint that will continue with Malaysia and Singapore over the next two weekends.
In the meantime, Lawson has stepped up from Racing Bulls to cover for Hadjar. The New Zealand driver previously enjoyed a brief two‑race spell with Red Bull at the start of the previous season, and he now finds himself back in a senior seat.
Yuki Tsunoda remains in the Racing Bulls lineup. Lawson has already shown his worth, having qualified eighth on two occasions and scoring points at both Zandvoort and the Madrid street circuit, where he finished sixth. "I think he's done a very good job," Mekies praised.
"Switching to a different team and a different car is never easy, but he has exceeded our expectations. He collected valuable points in Madrid with a P6 finish and delivered a similar performance at Zandvoort.
In Monza he would have likely done the same if not for the contact with Nico Hulkenberg that caused damage." Mekies continued, "The picture is completely different from the early part of the 2025 season when he first joined us, and we are very pleased with his progress." Over the past year Lawson has rebuilt his confidence at Racing Bulls, enjoying a consistent points‑scoring run before being called up to the senior Red Bull team on short notice. "He continues to grow as a driver," Mekies observed, noting that he has worked with Lawson at both Red Bull outfits. "He remains calm in the cockpit and very focused.
He keeps things simple, which helps him communicate effectively with the engineers and manage the car's performance. He concentrates on the fundamentals, gets the basics right, and that approach is paying off.
With more time in the car, we expect him to add another layer of finesse to his driving, but his foundation is already very strong." The upcoming race weekend will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix kicking off the triple‑header that runs from September 24 to 26. Viewers can stream the coverage via NOW, with the flexibility to cancel at any time. The Red Bull team will use the next week to finalize their decision on Hadjar's participation, balancing the desire for competitive results with the imperative of safeguarding the young driver's health and future performance.