Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekane emphasized that the priority remains Isack Hadjar's full recovery rather than rushing his return to the cockpit. The team plans to assess his condition in the coming days before deciding if he will be fit to race at next weekend's Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Hadjar has been sidelined for three consecutive rounds after injuring his wrist during a routine training session that took place before the sport resumed following its summer hiatus. In his absence, Racing Bulls' reserve driver Liam Lawson has stepped into the seat, providing the team with a capable stand‑in while Hadjar recuperates.
After the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday, Mekane spoke about the progress of Hadjar's rehabilitation. He said the recovery is proceeding according to the schedule set out by the medical team and that a simulator run has been scheduled to gauge how ready the French driver might be for a possible comeback in Baku. "There is nothing wrong with Isack's recovery. We have learned that his injury is typical for the type of trauma he suffered," Mekane explained.
"Therefore we will maintain the same measured approach we have been using so far." He added that the team will take a full week—actually a little more than a week—to monitor Hadjar's condition, to see how he feels, and to put him through a realistic simulator session that replicates 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 is still not fully healed, we will stick to our policy of putting his health first," Mekane said. The team chief was clear that an premature return could jeopardise Hadjar's long‑term performance. "We do not want an early comeback to compromise his ability to reach full potential later in the season," he warned. The Azerbaijan Grand Prix, staged on the street circuit of Baku, will start a day earlier than usual, with practice sessions scheduled for Wednesday and the race itself on Saturday.
This event kicks off a three‑week triple‑header that will see the championship move to Malaysia and Singapore over the following weekends. In the meantime, Liam Lawson has been promoted from the sister team Racing Bulls to fill Hadjar's vacancy. Lawson previously enjoyed a brief, albeit troubled, two‑race spell with the senior Red Bull outfit at the start of the previous season.
Yuki Tsunoda continues to race for Racing Bulls. Lawson has already shown his worth, qualifying eighth on two occasions and scoring points at both Zandvoort and the Spanish round in Madrid, where he finished sixth. "He has done a very good job," Mekane praised.
"We all know how challenging it is to jump into a different team and a different car, and he has exceeded our expectations." He highlighted Lawson's performances, noting the strong points haul in Madrid and Zandvoort, and added that Lawson would likely have achieved a similar result in Monza if not for an incident with Nico Hulkenberg that caused damage to the car. "His work this weekend was impressive, especially compared with the early part of the 2025 season when he first joined us," Mekane continued.
"We are grateful and pleased with his contributions." Over the past year, Lawson has rebuilt his confidence and form within the Racing Bulls program, enjoying a steady stream of points before being called up to the senior Red Bull team on short notice. "He continues to develop as a driver," Mekane observed, noting that he has worked with Lawson across both Red Bull squads. "He remains calm in the car and highly focused." Mekane praised Lawson's methodical approach, saying the driver keeps things simple and concentrates on the fundamentals. "He tracks well with the team and approaches his performance and the car's behavior in a straightforward way.
He aims to get the basics right, and that strategy is paying off. With more seat time, he can add another layer of finesse, but his foundation is already very strong," the team principal concluded. Fans can follow the live action on Sky Sports F1 as the Azerbaijan Grand Prix launches the September triple‑header, with the Baku race taking place on Saturday. The broadcast is available via NOW, with a flexible subscription that can be cancelled at any time.