Isack Hadjar, the young French driver for Red Bull, is slated to get back behind the wheel at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix following a three‑race absence caused by a wrist problem. The 21‑year‑old, who has shown promise in his debut season as Max Verstappen's teammate, injured his wrist during a fitness session over the summer break in August, forcing him to miss the events in the Netherlands, Italy and Spain. Hadjar's return will be confirmed during the two practice sessions scheduled for Thursday at the Baku City Circuit.
The weekend's timetable has been shifted a day earlier to avoid overlapping with Azerbaijan Remembrance Day, meaning the driver will have a full weekend of track time to assess his recovery and re‑integrate with the team. In a statement issued on Tuesday morning, Oracle Red Bull Racing expressed enthusiasm about the Frenchman's comeback: "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." The team praised the medical staff and Hadjar's own dedication to the rehabilitation program that allowed him to regain full mobility and strength in his wrist. While Hadjar was sidelined, Liam Lawson was elevated from the Racing Bulls squad to fill his seat at the main Red Bull team.
At the same time, reserve driver Yuki Tsunoda stepped into the Racing Bulls car, ensuring both teams remained competitively staffed. Red Bull issued a further note of thanks to Lawson, highlighting his "professionalism, dedication and hard work over the past three races" and acknowledging the valuable points he contributed under challenging circumstances. The organization also recognized Tsunoda's efforts, stating that the Japanese driver "gave everything for the team and scored some very valuable points" during his stint with the junior squad.
With Hadjar now cleared to race, Lawson will revert to his original role with the Racing Bulls, and Tsunoda will return to his reserve duties for both Red Bull outfits. Hadjar's first season with Red Bull has been solid overall. He secured a podium finish in Monaco, demonstrating his speed and racecraft on a demanding street circuit.
Before his injury, he was sitting eighth in the Drivers' Championship, trailing McLaren's Oscar Piastri by 23 points. However, the gap widened to 49 points during his time away, and his deficit to team‑mate Max Verstappen grew from 38 points after the Hungarian Grand Prix to 74 points at the start of the Azerbaijan weekend.
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix marks the opening round of a three‑race swing that will continue with events in Malaysia and Singapore over the following two weekends. This triple‑header is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the remainder of the 2026 championship battle, as teams will have limited time to develop and implement upgrades between races.
The official schedule for the Baku weekend 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 9:00 am (session starts at 9:30 am), F2 qualifying at 10:55 am, Team bosses' press conference at 12:00 pm, Practice 2 at 12:30 pm (session starts at 1:00 pm), and the "F1 Show" at 2:15 pm. - Friday, 25 September: F2 sprint at 5:10 am, Practice 3 at 9:15 am (session starts at 9:30 am), F2 feature race 1 at 11:10 am, 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.
- Sunday, 27 September: Azerbaijan GP race start at 12:00 pm, followed by post‑race reaction at 2:00 pm and "Ted's Notebook" at 3:00 pm. All sessions will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event, with streaming available via NOW for viewers who prefer an online platform without a long‑term contract. Hadjar's return is more than just a personal milestone; it restores Red Bull's full driver lineup ahead of a critical phase of the season. With the team already planning upgrades to the MCL40 for the upcoming races, having both drivers back in the garage will accelerate data collection and development work.
Moreover, the Frenchman's experience on street circuits like Baku and Singapore could prove advantageous as the calendar moves to tighter, high‑downforce tracks. In summary, Isack Hadjar's comeback at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix signals the end of a brief but challenging rehabilitation period. Red Bull has expressed confidence in his fitness, and the driver himself is eager to make up lost ground in the championship fight. Fans can look forward to seeing him back in the iconic red‑blue livery, battling alongside Verstappen and contributing to what promises to be an exciting triple‑header stretch of races that could define the 2026 Formula 1 title chase.