Red Bull’s French rookie Isack Hadjar is slated to get back behind the wheel at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, ending a three‑race absence caused by a wrist problem. The 21‑year‑old, who has shown promise as Max Verstappen’s teammate during his debut season, was forced to sit out the Dutch, Italian and Spanish rounds after the injury occurred during a fitness session in the August summer break.
Hadjar’s return will be confirmed during the two practice sessions scheduled for Thursday at the Baku City Circuit. The race weekend has been shifted forward by a day to avoid clashing with Azerbaijan Remembrance Day, giving the young driver an extra day to fine‑tune his setup. In a statement released on Tuesday, Oracle Red Bull Racing expressed enthusiasm: "We are delighted to welcome Isack back this weekend. After a successful recovery from his wrist injury, he will resume competition on Thursday at the Baku circuit." During Hadjar’s time away, Liam Lawson was promoted from the Racing Bulls squad to fill his seat at Red Bull, while reserve driver Yuki Tsunoda stepped into the junior team’s car.
Red Bull praised Lawson’s performance, noting that he "stepped in under challenging circumstances, delivered impressive runs and made a valuable contribution to the team." The team also thanked Tsunoda for his professionalism, stating that his efforts over the three races earned valuable points and helped maintain the team’s momentum. The Frenchman’s first half‑season had been solid. He secured a podium finish in Monaco, demonstrating speed and racecraft that belied his rookie status. Before his injury, Hadjar was sitting eighth in the Drivers’ Championship, trailing McLaren’s Oscar Piastri by 23 points.
That gap widened to 49 points while he was sidelined, and his deficit to team‑mate Max Verstappen grew from 38 points after the Hungarian Grand Prix to 74 points at the time of his return. Hadjar’s comeback comes at a crucial juncture. The Azerbaijan Grand Prix opens a three‑race swing that will see the championship move to Malaysia and Singapore over the next two weekends. A strong performance in Baku could help him claw back lost ground in the standings and re‑establish his rhythm ahead of the Asian leg of the calendar.
The weekend schedule is packed. On Wednesday, September 23, a drivers’ press conference will be held at 11:00 am, followed by the paddock‑uncut interview at 2:00 pm. Thursday’s agenda includes an early F2 practice at 6:55 am, the first F1 practice session at 9:30 am, and the second practice at 1:00 pm, interspersed with team‑boss press conferences and the popular "The F1 Show" at 2:15 pm.
Friday features the F2 sprint, the third F1 practice, and the qualifying session for the Grand Prix, which will start at 1:00 pm. Saturday’s main event – the Grand Prix itself – kicks off at midday, with post‑race analysis and reaction segments scheduled throughout the afternoon. All sessions will also be streamed live on Sky Sports Main Event.
In addition to the on‑track action, the weekend will see a number of storylines unfold. Alpine has recently condemned online abuse directed at drivers after Franco Colapinto’s three‑car collision with Pierre Gasly and Lando Norris in Baku.
Meanwhile, George Russell’s recent "Grand Slam" victory in Azerbaijan sparked debate about the impact on Mercedes’ title hopes, especially in light of Kimi Antonelli’s recovery to fifth place after a cautious drive that he described as "driving like his grandma" due to confidence issues. Red Bull’s strategic handling of driver line‑ups during Hadjar’s absence underscores the team’s depth. Lawson’s promotion and Tsunoda’s stint with the junior squad illustrate how the organization can shuffle talent without compromising performance.
As Lawson returns to the Racing Bulls for the remainder of the season, the team thanked him for his dedication and wished him success in his future endeavors. Looking ahead, Hadjar will aim to make the most of the limited practice time to re‑acclimate to the car’s handling, especially after a wrist injury that could affect steering inputs.
His engineers will focus on fine‑tuning the suspension and brake balance to suit the high‑speed, low‑downforce layout of the Baku circuit, which features long straights punctuated by tight, technical sections. A strong qualifying performance will be essential, as track position is a key factor in a race where overtaking opportunities are scarce and safety‑car periods can dramatically reshuffle the order. If Hadjar can match or exceed his pre‑injury form, he could not only secure valuable points for himself but also provide Red Bull with a reliable second driver capable of challenging the front‑row contenders. A podium finish or even a top‑ten result would narrow the gap to both his teammate and his championship rivals, keeping his title aspirations alive as the season progresses into the Asian swing.
Fans can follow the action live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available through the NOW platform, which offers a flexible subscription that can be cancelled at any time. The Azerbaijan Grand Prix promises high drama, and Hadjar’s return adds an extra layer of intrigue to an already compelling weekend.