Isack Hadjar Set to Come Back from Wrist Injury at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Red Bull’s young French driver, Isack Hadjar, is poised to make his return to the Formula 1 grid at the upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix after an enforced three‑race hiatus caused by a wrist injury. The 21‑year‑old, who has shown promise as Max Verstappen’s teammate during his debut season, suffered the setback while completing a fitness routine during the sport’s summer break in August.

The injury forced him to miss the Dutch, Italian and Spanish rounds, leaving the team to reshuffle its driver line‑up for those events. Hadjar’s comeback will be marked by participation in both practice sessions scheduled for Thursday at the Baku City Circuit. Organisers have shifted the weekend’s timetable forward by a day to avoid overlapping with Azerbaijan Remembrance Day, meaning the usual Friday activities will now take place on Thursday.

In a statement released on Tuesday morning, Oracle Red Bull Racing expressed enthusiasm about the young driver’s recovery: "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 Racing Bulls squad to fill the vacant Red Bull seat, while reserve driver Yuki Tsunoda stepped into Lawson’s former role at the junior team. Red Bull publicly thanked Lawson for his professionalism and dedication over the three races he covered, noting that his performances under challenging circumstances were "impressive" and contributed significantly to the team’s points tally. The team also extended gratitude to Tsunoda, highlighting his commitment and the valuable points he secured while acting as a stand‑in.

Hadjar’s first season with Red Bull has been solid, highlighted by a podium finish in Monaco before his injury curtailed his momentum. Prior to the summer break, he was eighth in the Drivers’ Championship, trailing McLaren’s Oscar Piastri by 23 points. That gap widened to 49 points during his time away, and his deficit to Max Verstappen grew from 38 points after the Hungarian Grand Prix to 74 points at the start of the Baku weekend. Despite the points loss, the Frenchman remains a key part of Red Bull’s long‑term plans, having already secured a contract to continue as Verstappen’s teammate through the 2027 season.

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix marks the first leg of a three‑race sprint that will see the championship move to Malaysia and Singapore over the following two weekends. The packed schedule includes a drivers’ press conference on Wednesday morning, a series of practice sessions, qualifying, and the race itself, all broadcast live on Sky Sports and available for streaming via NOW. The race weekend’s timetable is as follows: - Wednesday 23 September – 11:00 am Drivers’ Press Conference; 2:00 pm Paddock Uncut.

- Thursday 24 September – 6:55 am F2 practice; 9:00 am Azerbaijan GP Practice One (starts at 9:30 am); 10:55 am F2 qualifying; 12:00 pm Team Bosses’ Press Conference; 12:30 pm Azerbaijan GP Practice Two (starts at 1:00 pm); 2:15 pm The F1 Show. - Friday 25 September – 5:10 am F2 sprint; 9:15 am Azerbaijan GP Practice Three (starts at 9:30 am); 11:10 am F2 Feature Race 1; 12:30 pm Azerbaijan GP Qualifying build‑up; 1:00 pm Azerbaijan GP Qualifying; 3:00 pm Ted’s Qualifying Notebook. - Saturday 26 September – 7:55 am F2 Feature Race 2; 10:30 am Grand Prix start; 12:00 pm The Azerbaijan Grand Prix; 2:00 pm Chequered Flag reaction; 3:00 pm Ted’s Notebook.

All sessions will also be streamed live on Sky Sports Main Event. The decision to hold the race on a Saturday aligns with the new weekend format adopted for the 2026 season, offering fans a more compact and action‑filled schedule. Beyond the immediate excitement of Hadjar’s return, his recovery underscores the physical demands placed on modern F1 drivers. Wrist injuries, while less common than leg or back problems, can severely limit a driver’s ability to control the steering wheel, manage the car’s complex paddle‑shift system, and endure the high‑G forces experienced during cornering.

Hadjar’s successful rehabilitation demonstrates both his personal resilience and the effectiveness of Red Bull’s medical and fitness support staff. Looking ahead, Hadjar will aim to rebuild the points deficit he incurred during his absence. Consistency will be crucial, especially as the championship enters a crucial triple‑header phase where every race carries amplified significance.

With Red Bull’s strong chassis and power unit package, and a teammate in Verstappen who continues to dominate, Hadjar has the tools to fight his way back up the standings. In summary, Isack Hadjar’s return to the Baku circuit marks a pivotal moment for both the driver and the team. After a three‑race lay‑off due to a wrist injury sustained during off‑season training, he will re‑join the grid for the Thursday practice sessions, with full race participation slated for Saturday. Red Bull has praised the contributions of his temporary replacements, Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda, and looks forward to seeing Hadjar back in the cockpit, ready to add more points to his tally and continue his development as a future championship contender.