Isack Hadjar, the young French driver who shares Red Bull's top‑tier machinery with four‑time champion Max Verstappen, is poised to rejoin the grid at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after a three‑race hiatus caused by a wrist problem. The 21‑year‑old, who has shown promise in his debut season as Verstappen's teammate, was forced to sit out the Dutch, Italian and Spanish rounds after injuring his wrist during a fitness session in the summer break that follows the August race calendar.
The injury occurred while Hadjar was undertaking a routine strength‑training workout, a common practice among Formula 1 drivers who must maintain peak physical condition to cope with the extreme g‑forces experienced on track. Medical staff assessed the damage as a sprain that required a short period of immobilisation and targeted physiotherapy. After a careful rehabilitation programme, Red Bull confirmed that the Frenchman has recovered fully and is ready to take his place back in the cockpit for the Baku City Circuit.
Hadjar's return will be marked by his participation in the two practice sessions scheduled for Thursday, 24 September, in Baku. The weekend's timetable has been shifted a day earlier than usual to avoid overlapping with Azerbaijan's national Remembrance Day, meaning that the traditional Saturday race will now be run on Saturday midday local time, with qualifying taking place on Friday afternoon.
The team's official statement read: "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, Red Bull's junior outfit, Racing Bulls, promoted Liam Lawson from its development line‑up to fill the vacant seat. Lawson delivered solid performances under pressure, earning praise from the team for his professionalism and adaptability. Reserve driver Yuki Tsunoda, who had been called up to cover the third seat for the senior team, also stepped in for the three races, scoring valuable points and demonstrating his readiness for a potential full‑time role.
In a joint statement, Red Bull thanked both drivers: "The team would like to sincerely thank Liam for his dedication and hard work over the past three races. Stepping in under challenging circumstances, he delivered impressive performances and made a valuable contribution to the team. We wish him all the very best as he returns to Visa Cash App Racing Bulls.
Likewise, we thank Yuki for stepping in, giving everything for the team and scoring some very valuable points." Hadjar's early season had been encouraging. He secured a podium finish in Monaco, showcasing his ability to extract performance from the Red Bull car on a street circuit that rewards precision and bravery.
By the time the summer break arrived, he was sitting eighth in the Drivers' Championship, a respectable position for a rookie. However, the points gap to his teammate Oscar Piastri of McLaren had widened from 23 points to 49 points during his three‑race absence, while his deficit to Verstappen grew from 38 points after the Hungarian Grand Prix to 74 points now.
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix marks the opening leg of a three‑race swing that will see the championship travel to Malaysia and Singapore over the following two weekends. This triple‑header is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the 2026 title fight, as teams will have to manage tyre allocations, car upgrades and driver stamina across three back‑to‑back events in hot, humid conditions. For fans planning to watch, the weekend's schedule is as follows: - Wednesday 23 September: Drivers' press conference at 11:00 am, followed by the paddock‑uncut interview at 2:00 pm. - Thursday 24 September: F2 practice at 6:55 am, Azerbaijan GP Practice 1 at 9:30 am, F2 qualifying at 10:55 am, team bosses' press conference at 12:00 pm, Practice 2 at 1:00 pm, and The F1 Show at 2:15 pm.
- Friday 25 September: F2 sprint at 5:10 am, Practice 3 at 9:30 am, F2 feature race at 11:10 am, GP qualifying build‑up at 12:30 pm, Azerbaijan GP qualifying at 1:00 pm, and Ted's Qualifying Notebook at 3:00 pm. - Saturday 26 September: F2 feature race 2 at 7:55 am, Grand Prix start at 10:30 am, followed by post‑race analysis.
- Sunday 27 September: Race wrap‑up and reaction segments. All sessions will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event, with streaming available via NOW without a long‑term contract, allowing viewers to cancel at any time. The coverage includes dedicated F2 content, qualifying analysis, and expert commentary to help audiences follow the action in detail.
Hadjar's comeback is more than a personal milestone; it restores Red Bull's full driver lineup ahead of a crucial phase of the season. With the team expected to introduce further aerodynamic upgrades to the MCL50 for the Asian swing, both drivers will have the opportunity to capitalize on fresh performance gains. The Frenchman's return also adds another competitive element to the midfield battle, where McLaren, Ferrari and Alpine are all vying for podiums and valuable points.
In summary, Isack Hadjar will be back in the Red Bull seat at the Baku City Circuit after a successful rehabilitation from his wrist injury. His substitute, Liam Lawson, and reserve driver Yuki Tsunoda have both earned the team's gratitude for stepping up during his absence. The Azerbaijan Grand Prix kicks off a three‑race stretch that could heavily influence the 2026 championship narrative, and fans can catch all the action live on Sky Sports or via streaming platforms.