Red Bull’s French rookie Isack Hadjar is poised to get back behind the wheel at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, ending a three‑race hiatus caused by a wrist problem. The 21‑year‑old, who has shown promise in his debut season as Max Verstappen’s teammate, suffered the injury during a fitness routine in the summer break and was forced to sit out the Dutch, Italian and Spanish rounds.
Hadjar’s return will be marked by his participation in both practice sessions on Thursday at the Baku City Circuit. The weekend’s timetable has been shifted forward by a day to avoid overlapping with Azerbaijan Remembrance Day, meaning the usual Friday qualifying will now take place on Thursday afternoon.
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." The team praised the medical team’s work and highlighted Hadjar’s determination throughout his rehabilitation. During Hadjar’s absence, Liam Lawson was elevated from the Racing Bulls squad to fill the vacant seat at Red Bull, while reserve driver Yuki Tsunoda stepped into Lawson’s spot at the junior team.
Red Bull issued a note of gratitude to Lawson, stating: "The team would like to sincerely thank Liam for his professionalism, dedication and hard work over the past three races. Stepping in under challenging circumstances, he delivered some 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." The organization also thanked Tsunoda for his efforts, acknowledging the points he earned for the junior outfit. Hadjar’s first season has already featured a podium finish in Monaco, and he sits eighth in the drivers’ standings. Before his injury, he was 23 points behind McLaren’s Oscar Piastri; that gap has now widened to 49 points.
He was also 38 points behind Verstappen after the Hungarian Grand Prix, the race that concluded the pre‑summer schedule, and the deficit has expanded to 74 points following his time away. The Azerbaijan event marks the opening leg of a three‑race sprint that will continue with races in Malaysia and Singapore over the next two weekends. The packed itinerary includes: - Wednesday, 23 September: Drivers’ press conference at 11:00 am.
- Thursday, 24 September: F2 practice at 6:55 am, Azerbaijan GP Practice One at 9:00 am (official start 9:30 am), F2 qualifying at 10:55 am, Team bosses’ press conference at 12:00 pm, Practice Two at 12:30 pm (start 1:00 pm), and the F1 Show at 2:15 pm. - Friday, 25 September: F2 sprint at 5:10 am, Practice Three at 9:15 am (start 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: Grand Prix main event at 12:00 pm, 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 without a contract. Hadjar’s comeback is more than a personal milestone; it also reinforces Red Bull’s depth of talent as the championship heads into a critical phase. The team will be eager to see whether the French driver can quickly regain his rhythm and contribute points to the constructors’ battle, especially as the season’s final stretch approaches. His performance in Baku could set the tone for the upcoming Asian swing, where track characteristics in Malaysia and Singapore will test drivers’ adaptability and teams’ strategic acumen.
In addition to the on‑track action, the weekend will feature a series of media events, including a press conference with the drivers on Wednesday and a team bosses’ briefing on Thursday. Fans can also look forward to the F2 support races, which often provide a glimpse of future F1 talent. Overall, Isack Hadjar’s return to the grid underscores the resilience of a young driver who has already demonstrated speed and composure at the sport’s highest level.
With his wrist fully healed, the Frenchman will aim to make up lost ground, chase podiums, and support Red Bull’s push for both the drivers’ and constructors’ titles as the 2026 season enters its decisive phase.