Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekane reiterated that the squad will keep Isack Hadjar's rehabilitation as the top priority, refusing to rush him back onto the grid before he is fully ready. The team has scheduled a series of assessments, including a simulator run, to decide whether Hadjar can compete at the upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Hadjar has been sidelined for the past three events after he suffered a wrist injury during a routine training session that took place just before the championship resumed following the summer hiatus. In his absence, Racing Bulls' driver Liam Lawson has stepped into the seat, providing the team with a temporary solution while they monitor Hadjar's progress.
In remarks made after the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday, Mekane explained that Hadjar's recovery is proceeding according to the plan they set out at the start of his treatment. A dedicated simulator session is slated for the coming week, designed to gauge how the Frenchman copes with the physical demands of a race car and to determine whether he can safely rejoin the competition in Baku. "There is nothing wrong with Isack's recovery. We have learned that his injuries are fairly typical for this type of incident," Mekane said.
"Therefore, we will maintain the same methodical approach we have been using. In a week's time we will review the data, see how he feels, and then put him in the simulator to expose him to real‑world constraints.
If he feels near 100 per cent, we will give him the green light. If he indicates that he is not yet fully recovered, we will stick to our principle of putting his health first. The last thing we want is an early comeback that jeopardises his long‑term ability to perform at 100 per cent." 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 sprint of back‑to‑back races, as the calendar moves on to Malaysia and Singapore over the following two weekends. Lawson, who moved up from the sister team Racing Bulls to fill Hadjar's vacancy, is no stranger to the Red Bull environment.
He previously enjoyed a brief two‑race stint with the senior squad at the start of the previous season. Meanwhile, Yuki Tsunoda continues to represent Racing Bulls. Lawson has already shown his worth, qualifying eighth on two occasions and scoring points at both Zandvoort and the Madrid street circuit, where he finished sixth.
"I think he's 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 secured valuable points in Madrid with a P6 finish and replicated that performance in Zandvoort. In Monza he would likely have done the same if not for the contact with Nico Hulkenberg that caused damage." Mekane added that Lawson's performance this season marks a stark contrast to the early part of the 2025 campaign when he first joined the team.
"He has rebuilt his form and confidence at Racing Bulls over the past year, and he was already enjoying a consistent points‑scoring run before his unexpected senior Red Bull call‑up." "He continues to develop as a driver," Mekane continued, noting his long‑standing working relationship with Lawson across both Red Bull outfits. "He remains calm behind the wheel and highly focused. He keeps things simple, both in his communication with the engineers and in how he extracts performance from the car.
By concentrating on the fundamentals, he is delivering solid results. With more time in the car, he can add an extra layer of finesse, but his current approach is already very strong." Looking ahead, the team will use the upcoming week to monitor Hadjar's wrist condition, assess his strength and mobility, and run him through a series of simulator laps that mimic the unique demands of the Baku circuit. The goal is to ensure that when he returns, he can compete without compensating for lingering pain or weakness, which could affect his lap times and overall safety.
If Hadjar is deemed fit, Red Bull will likely field a three‑driver lineup across its two teams for the Azerbaijan weekend, with Lawson continuing his stint at Racing Bulls and the senior team potentially reinstating Hadjar. Should the medical team advise further rest, Lawson will retain his seat for the remainder of the triple‑header, providing continuity for the team as they chase points in the tightly contested championship battle. Fans can watch the Azerbaijan Grand Prix live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available via NOW, offering a contract‑free option that can be cancelled at any time.
The race marks the start of an intense three‑race stretch that will test drivers' stamina, team strategies, and the ability to adapt quickly to different circuits across three continents.