Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies reiterated that the French driver Isack Hadjar’s rehabilitation will remain the top priority, and the team will not rush him back onto the grid. The decision about whether Hadjar will line up for the upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix will be taken after a series of assessments, including a dedicated simulator run designed to gauge his physical readiness and confidence levels. Hadjar has been sidelined for three consecutive rounds after suffering a wrist injury during a routine training session that took place just before the sport resumed following its summer hiatus.
In his absence, Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson was called upon to fill the vacant seat, stepping up from the sister team to ensure the car remains competitive while the youngster recovers. Mekies addressed the media after the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday, confirming that the recovery timeline is proceeding as expected. He explained that a simulator session scheduled for the coming week will provide valuable data on Hadjar’s ability to handle the car’s demands under realistic conditions, which will inform the final decision on his participation in the Baku street race.
"There is nothing wrong with Isack’s recovery. We have learned that the healing period for injuries of this nature is fairly standard," Mekies said. "Consequently, we will maintain our current approach and continue to monitor his progress closely. In about a week’s time we will reassess the situation, evaluate how he feels, and then put him in the simulator to expose him to real‑world constraints.
If he feels near 100 percent, we will give him the green light. If not, we will stick to our principle of putting his health first. The last thing we want is an early comeback that could jeopardise his long‑term performance and keep him from returning at full strength." The Azerbaijan Grand Prix, staged on the narrow, high‑speed streets of Baku, will start a day earlier than usual, with practice sessions slated for Wednesday and the race on Saturday. This event marks the opening leg of a three‑week sprint that will see the championship move to Malaysia and Singapore for the following two weekends.
Lawson’s promotion from Racing Bulls to the senior Red Bull team has been a notable storyline. The New Zealander previously enjoyed a brief, albeit turbulent, two‑race spell with the senior squad at the start of the previous season.
Since his return to the junior outfit, he has consistently delivered solid results, including two eighth‑place qualifiers and points finishes at both Zandvoort and Madrid, where he secured a sixth‑place finish. "He has done a very good job," Mekies praised. "We all know how challenging it is to jump into a different team and a different car, and he has met, if not exceeded, our expectations.
He collected valuable points in Madrid with a P6 and replicated that performance in Zandvoort. In Monza he would have likely achieved a similar result if not for the contact with Nico Hulkenberg that caused damage to the car." Mekies highlighted that Lawson’s recent form reflects a steady climb in confidence and skill.
Over the past year, the driver has rebuilt his reputation at Racing Bulls, turning what began as a modest stint into a reliable points‑scoring campaign. His calm demeanor and focus behind the wheel have impressed the Red Bull hierarchy, who have worked with him across both the junior and senior squads. "He continues to grow as a driver," Mekies added. "He is composed in the car and stays focused on the essentials.
He keeps things simple, which helps him communicate effectively with the engineers and extract the maximum from the machinery. With more seat time, he will inevitably develop a finer touch, but his fundamentals are already very strong." The decision to keep Hadjar out of the Azerbaijan race underscores Red Bull’s broader philosophy of safeguarding driver welfare. Wrist injuries, while not always career‑threatening, can impede a driver’s ability to operate the steering wheel with the precision required at the elite level.
By allowing adequate time for the injury to heal fully, the team hopes to avoid any lingering issues that could affect performance later in the season. In addition to the medical considerations, the team will also evaluate the strategic implications of fielding a substitute driver.
Lawson’s recent points hauls have demonstrated that he can deliver respectable results, but the senior team may still prefer to wait for Hadjar’s full return to maintain continuity in development feedback and long‑term planning. Fans can follow the live coverage of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Sky Sports F1, which will broadcast the event as part of a triple‑header series running from September 24 to 26. The race will be streamed via NOW, with a flexible subscription model that allows cancellation at any time. This accessibility ensures that viewers worldwide can keep up with the unfolding drama as Red Bull navigates the delicate balance between driver health and competitive ambition.