Isack Hadjar, the 21‑year‑old French driver who shares Red Bull Racing’s #1 seat with Max Verstappen, is slated to return to the grid at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix following a three‑race absence caused by a wrist problem. The injury was sustained in August while the young Frenchman was undertaking a fitness routine during the summer hiatus that sits between the first half of the Formula One calendar and the second half.
The setback forced him to miss the Dutch, Italian and Spanish rounds, leaving the team to reshuffle its driver line‑up for those events. Hadjar’s first appearance back in a Red Bull‑liveried car will be during the Thursday practice sessions at the Baku City Circuit.
The race weekend has been shifted a day earlier than usual to avoid overlapping with Azerbaijan Remembrance Day, meaning the practice, qualifying and race schedule will all be compressed into a tighter timeframe. In a statement released on Tuesday morning, Oracle Red Bull Racing expressed enthusiasm about the Frenchman's return: "Oracle Red Bull Racing is delighted to welcome Isack back this weekend. Having made a successful recovery from his wrist injury, Isack will return to action at the Baku City Circuit on Thursday." During Hadjar’s absence, Liam Lawson was promoted from the Red Bull junior outfit Racing Bulls to fill the vacant seat at the senior team. Meanwhile, reserve driver Yuki Tsunoda stepped into Lawson’s position at the junior squad, ensuring that both cars remained fully staffed for the three races that took place without Hadjar.
Red Bull publicly thanked Lawson for his professionalism and dedication, noting that he delivered "impressive performances" under challenging circumstances and contributed valuable points to the team’s championship tally. The team also extended gratitude to Tsunoda, praising his commitment and the points he secured while acting as a stand‑in.
Hadjar’s early season performance had been solid, highlighted by a podium finish in Monaco that demonstrated his ability to compete at the front of the pack. Prior to his injury, he was sitting eighth in the Drivers' Championship, trailing McLaren’s Oscar Piastri by 23 points.
That gap widened to 49 points while he was sidelined, and his deficit to Verstappen grew from 38 points after the Hungarian Grand Prix to 74 points at the time of his return. Despite the points loss, the young driver remains a key component of Red Bull’s long‑term strategy, and the team is eager to see him back in the cockpit to continue his development. The Azerbaijan Grand Prix marks the opening round of a three‑race sprint that will see the championship move to Malaysia and Singapore over the following two weekends.
This triple‑header format adds extra pressure on drivers and teams, as any mistake can have amplified consequences across three consecutive events. The schedule for the Baku weekend is packed: a drivers' press conference on Wednesday morning, followed by a series of Formula 2 support races and two full‑length practice sessions for the F1 cars on Thursday. Qualifying is slated for Saturday afternoon, with the race itself taking place at midday, a departure from the traditional Sunday slot.
Racing Bulls, the junior team that nurtures Red Bull’s emerging talent, also issued a statement acknowledging the contributions of both Lawson and Tsunoda. They highlighted Lawson’s return to the senior squad and Tsunoda’s willingness to step in for three races, emphasizing the collaborative spirit that underpins the Red Bull driver development programme. The organisation expressed confidence that Hadjar’s full recovery will allow him to resume his role with the senior team, while Lawson and Tsunoda will continue to gain valuable experience in their respective positions. Beyond the immediate driver changes, the broader context of the 2026 Formula One season is worth noting.
The sport is entering a new era of technical regulations that aim to increase aerodynamic freedom and promote closer racing. Teams are still adapting to the new power unit specifications, and the early part of the season will be crucial for gathering data and refining car setups. Red Bull, having dominated the previous years, is keen to maintain its competitive edge, and the return of a fully fit Hadjar is an integral part of that plan.
Fans can follow the action live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available via the NOW platform. The network has highlighted that the Azerbaijan Grand Prix will be broadcast on a Saturday, a shift designed to accommodate the triple‑header schedule and maximise viewership across the three Asian venues.
The broadcast will include pre‑race analysis, live timing, and post‑race commentary, ensuring that audiences receive comprehensive coverage of the event. In summary, Isack Hadjar’s comeback at the Baku Grand Prix signals the end of a brief but challenging recovery period. Red Bull Racing has expressed confidence in his fitness, and the team’s recent driver reshuffle has demonstrated the depth of talent within its junior programme. With the championship poised to enter a demanding three‑race sprint across Asia, every point will be vital, and Hadjar’s presence back in the car could prove decisive in the ongoing battle for both the Drivers' and Constructors' titles.