Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has reiterated that the priority remains Isack Hadjar's full recovery rather than hurrying him back onto the grid. The team plans to conduct a series of assessments, including a simulator run, before deciding if the French driver will be fit enough to compete at next weekend's Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Hadjar has been absent from the last three races after injuring his wrist in a routine training session that took place just before the sport resumed following its summer hiatus.
In his stead, Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson has stepped up to fill the vacant seat. Speaking after the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday, Mekies said the Frenchman's healing process is proceeding according to schedule.
He added that a dedicated simulator session has been arranged to gauge how ready Hadjar might be for a potential return in Baku. "There is nothing wrong with Isack's recovery. I think we have learned that it's fundamentally a normal time for the sort of injuries he has," Mekies explained. "So we will continue with the same approach and what we have.
We will evaluate the situation in a week's time." He emphasized that the team now has a little more than a full week to monitor Hadjar's condition, observe how he feels, and then place him in the simulator to expose him to realistic constraints. "If he feels close to 100 per cent, we go for it. If he feels the recovery is not completed, we will stick to our approach to put his recovery first," Mekies said.
"What we don't want to do is, by having an early return, compromise his long‑term capacity to come back to 100 per cent." The Azerbaijan Grand Prix, staged on Baku's demanding street circuit, will start a day earlier than usual, with practice slated for Wednesday and the race on Saturday. This event kicks off a three‑weekend sprint of races, followed by events in Malaysia and Singapore.
Lawson, who previously raced for the sister team Racing Bulls, has taken over Hadjar's duties. He briefly appeared in a two‑race stint at the start of the previous season, and Yuki Tsunoda has been handling the Racing Bulls car meanwhile. The New Zealander has already shown his worth, qualifying eighth on two occasions and scoring points at both Zandvoort and Madrid, where he finished sixth.
"I think he's done a very good job," Mekies praised. "We all know how difficult it is to jump to a different team, to a different car, and I think he has done that to the best of what could have been our expectations.
He has taken some very important points in Madrid with P6. He did the same in Zandvoort, and in Monza he would have done something similar without the contact with Nico Hulkenberg and the damage." Mekies added that Lawson's performance this season marks a stark contrast to the early part of 2025 when he first joined the team. "Again, very different pictures compared to the first races of 2025 when he was in the team, so we are thankful and happy with that," he said.
Over the past year Lawson has rebuilt his form and confidence at Racing Bulls, enjoying a steady points‑scoring run before his unexpected temporary promotion to the senior Red Bull squad. "I think he has continued to grow as a driver," Mekies noted, having worked with Lawson across both Red Bull outfits.
"He's very calm in the car; he's very focused. He's certainly making… I don't know if he makes an effort or not, but he's certainly managed to keep things simple in the way he tracks with the team and in the way he tackles his own performance and the car performance." Mekies highlighted Lawson's methodical approach: "So, he's focused on the essentials; he tries to get the basics right, and it's working for him. Of course, with more time in the car, you can then get to another degree of finesse, maybe. But I think that, of course, is very, very strong." Looking ahead, the Red Bull camp will use the upcoming week to monitor Hadjar's wrist healing, his comfort level in the simulator, and any lingering pain or restriction.
The decision will balance the desire to have the driver back in the cockpit against the risk of aggravating the injury and jeopardising his long‑term performance. Fans can watch the Azerbaijan Grand Prix live on Sky Sports F1, with the race forming the first leg of a triple‑header that runs from September 24 to 26.
The event will be streamed via NOW, offering a contract‑free option that can be cancelled at any time. The focus remains clear: safeguard Hadjar's health, give Lawson the chance to prove his adaptability, and ensure that when the Frenchman does return, he does so at full strength, ready to compete at the highest level.