Isack Hadjar, the young French driver who shares Red Bull Racing’s #1 car with four‑time champion Max Verstappen, is slated to return to the grid at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku after a three‑race absence caused by a wrist injury sustained during his summer fitness routine. The 21‑year‑old made his F1 debut earlier this season and quickly proved himself a capable teammate, earning points and even a podium finish in Monaco before the injury forced him to sit out the Dutch, Italian and Spanish rounds.
The injury occurred in August while Hadjar was performing strength‑training exercises during the mid‑season break. Medical scans revealed a fracture in his wrist that required immobilisation and a period of rehabilitation. Red Bull’s medical team oversaw a careful recovery program, combining physiotherapy, low‑impact conditioning and gradual re‑introduction of steering‑wheel duties.
By early September, the team confirmed that Hadjar’s wrist had healed sufficiently for him to resume full‑time driving duties. Hadjar’s first appearance back in a Red Bull‑liveried car will be during the two practice sessions scheduled for Thursday, 24 September, on the narrow, high‑speed streets of the Baku City Circuit. The weekend’s timetable has been shifted a day earlier than usual to avoid overlapping with Azerbaijan’s national Remembrance Day, meaning the practice runs will start at 9:30 a.m.
local time, followed by a full‑day qualifying session on Saturday and the race on Sunday. In a statement released on Tuesday morning, Red Bull expressed enthusiasm about the Frenchman’s return: "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 also praised the performance of the drivers who stepped in during Hadjar’s absence. Liam Lawson, promoted from the Red Bull junior outfit Racing Bulls, filled Hadjar’s seat for the three missed Grands Prix, while reserve driver Yuki Tsunoda took over Lawson’s position at the junior squad.
Red Bull’s communication highlighted Lawson’s professionalism and dedication, noting that he delivered "impressive performances" under challenging circumstances and contributed valuable points to the team’s Constructors’ tally. The statement added, "We wish him all the very best as he returns to Visa Cash App Racing Bulls." Similarly, Racing Bulls thanked Tsunoda for his efforts, stating that the Japanese driver gave "everything for the team and scored some very valuable points" before returning to his reserve role for both the senior and junior teams. Hadjar’s return is significant not only for Red Bull’s driver lineup but also for the championship battle. Before his injury, he was sitting eighth in the Drivers’ Championship, trailing Verstappen by 38 points after the Hungarian Grand Prix, the last race before the summer break.
The missed rounds allowed McLaren’s Oscar Piastri to extend his lead over Hadjar from 23 points to 49 points, and the gap to Verstappen has now widened to 74 points. A strong showing in Baku could help the Frenchman claw back some ground, especially given the high‑downforce, overtaking‑friendly nature of the Baku circuit.
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix marks the opening race of a three‑week triple‑header that will continue in Malaysia and Singapore. The packed schedule includes F2 support races, press conferences, and a series of live broadcasts on Sky Sports F1 and NOW streaming platforms. Fans can expect a full weekend of action, with practice sessions on Thursday and Friday, a sprint race on Friday morning, and the main Grand Prix on Saturday afternoon. The official weekend agenda is as follows: - Wednesday 23 September: Drivers’ press conference at 11:00 a.m.
- Thursday 24 September: F2 practice at 6:55 a.m., Azerbaijan GP Practice 1 at 9:30 a.m., F2 qualifying at 10:55 a.m., Team bosses’ press conference at 12:00 p.m., Practice 2 at 12:30 p.m., and the F1 Show at 2:15 p.m. - Friday 25 September: F2 sprint at 5:10 a.m., Practice 3 at 9:30 a.m., F2 Feature Race 1 at 11:10 a.m., Qualifying build‑up at 12:30 p.m., Azerbaijan GP Qualifying at 1:00 p.m., followed by Ted’s Qualifying Notebook at 3:00 p.m.
- Saturday 26 September: F2 Feature Race 2 at 7:55 a.m., Grand Prix start at 10:30 a.m., race finish around midday, post‑race reaction at 2:00 p.m., and Ted’s Notebook at 3:00 p.m. All sessions will be streamed live on Sky Sports Main Event, with additional coverage available via the NOW streaming service, which offers a contract‑free, cancel‑anytime option. Hadjar’s comeback will be closely watched by analysts who will assess whether his wrist has fully recovered and if his performance level matches his pre‑injury form.
The young driver has shown a blend of speed, composure, and race‑craft that bodes well for his future, and a solid result in Baku could reignite his championship aspirations. Moreover, his return adds an extra layer of intrigue to the Red Bull driver dynamics, as the team continues to evaluate the best combination of talent to support Verstappen’s title defence. In summary, Isack Hadjar is set to rejoin the Red Bull Racing lineup at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after a successful rehabilitation from a wrist fracture.
The team has expressed confidence in his recovery, while also acknowledging the contributions of Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda, who stepped in during his absence. With the championship points gap widening, Hadjar will be eager to make the most of the Baku opportunity and demonstrate that he remains a vital component of Red Bull’s 2026 campaign.