Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekane reiterated that the French driver Isack Hadjar’s rehabilitation remains the top priority for the outfit, and that they will not rush him back to competition before a thorough assessment is completed. The decision on whether Hadjar will take part in the upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix, scheduled for next weekend, will be made after a series of evaluations, including a simulator test designed to gauge his readiness. Hadjar has been absent from the grid for the past three events after suffering a wrist injury during a routine training session that took place just as the championship was resuming after its summer hiatus. In his stead, Liam Lawson, who drives for the sister team Racing Bulls, has been called up to fill the vacant seat.
Lawson’s appearance marks his return to a Red Bull‑aligned car after a brief and troubled two‑race spell at the start of the previous season, while Yuki Tsunoda continues to race for Racing Bulls. Speaking after the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday, Mekane said the recovery programme for Hadjar is proceeding exactly as planned.
He explained that a dedicated simulator session has been scheduled to expose the Frenchman to realistic race‑like conditions without the physical strain of an actual on‑track run. "There is nothing wrong with Isack’s recovery. We’ve learned that the timeline we’re seeing is typical for the type of injury he sustained," Mekane told reporters. "Therefore, we will maintain our current approach and continue to monitor his progress closely." Mekane added that the team has a little more than a week to evaluate Hadjar’s condition.
"We will spend this time watching how he feels, putting him through the simulator to see how he copes with the constraints of a real car, and then make a decision. If he feels close to 100 percent, we’ll give him the green light.
If not, we will stick to our principle of putting his long‑term health first. We do not want an early comeback to jeopardise his ability to return at full capacity later on." The Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which takes place on the street circuit of Baku, will start a day earlier than usual, with practice sessions set for the coming Wednesday and the race on Saturday. This event kicks off a three‑week triple‑header that will see the championship move to Malaysia and Singapore for the following two weekends.
Lawson’s performance in Hadjar’s absence has been praised by Mekane. The New Zealander has already qualified eighth on two occasions and scored points in both Zandvoort and Madrid, where he finished sixth.
"He has done a very good job," Mekane said. "Adapting to a different team and a different car is never easy, but he has exceeded our expectations. He earned valuable points in Madrid with a P6 finish and delivered a similar result in Zandvoort. In Monza, he would have likely matched those performances if not for the contact with Nico Hulkenberg that caused damage." Mekane highlighted the stark contrast between Lawson’s early 2025 outings with the team and his current form, noting the significant improvement and consistency he has shown.
"We are grateful and pleased with his progress," the team principal added. Beyond the immediate results, Mekane emphasized Lawson’s development over the past year at Racing Bulls. "He has continued to grow as a driver," Mekane observed, having worked with Lawson across both Red Bull squads. "He remains calm behind the wheel and highly focused.
He keeps things simple, both in his communication with the engineers and in his approach to extracting performance from the car. By concentrating on the fundamentals, he has been able to deliver solid points finishes. With more time in the car, we expect him to add another layer of finesse to his driving style." The upcoming race weekend in Baku promises to be a pivotal moment for both drivers.
Should Hadjar be cleared by the simulator test and feel fully recovered, he could return to the grid and continue his campaign for points. If not, Lawson will likely retain the seat for the remainder of the triple‑header, giving him further exposure to top‑level competition.
Fans can follow the live action on Sky Sports F1, where the Azerbaijan Grand Prix will be broadcast as part of a three‑race stretch from September 24‑26. The race will be streamed via NOW, offering a flexible subscription with no long‑term contract required.