Red Bull’s young French driver 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 in his debut season as Max Verstappen’s teammate, was forced to sit out the Dutch, Italian and Spanish rounds after the injury occurred during a fitness session in August, while the Formula 1 calendar was on its summer hiatus. Hadjar’s return will be marked during the two practice sessions scheduled for Thursday at the Baku City Circuit.
The weekend’s timetable has been shifted forward by a day to avoid overlapping with Azerbaijan’s Remembrance Day, giving the Frenchman a full weekend of track time to shake off any lingering stiffness and to reacquaint himself with the high‑speed, street‑circuit layout. 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’s message underscored both the medical clearance and the confidence that Hadjar is ready to compete at the highest level once again. During Hadjar’s absence, Liam Lawson was promoted from the Racing Bulls squad to fill the vacant Red Bull seat, while reserve driver Yuki Tsunoda stepped into Lawson’s former role at the junior team.
Red Bull praised Lawson’s performance, noting that he stepped in under “challenging circumstances” and delivered “impressive performances” that contributed valuable points to the team’s constructors tally. The organization also thanked Tsunoda for his dedication, acknowledging that his contributions over the three races were instrumental in keeping the junior team competitive. Hadjar’s early season had been solid, highlighted by a podium finish in Monaco that demonstrated his ability to extract performance from the Red Bull car even when not starting from the front row. Before his injury, he was sitting eighth in the Drivers’ Championship, trailing the team leader Max Verstappen by 38 points after the Hungarian Grand Prix, the last race before the summer break.
The missed races have widened that gap to 74 points, and his deficit to McLaren’s Oscar Piastri has grown from 23 to 49 points, underscoring the championship implications of his time away. The Azerbaijan Grand Prix marks the opening round of a three‑race sprint that will see the F1 calendar move to Malaysia and Singapore for the following two weekends. This triple‑header adds extra pressure on drivers and teams to maintain momentum, making Hadjar’s return all the more significant for Red Bull’s championship aspirations. The official schedule for the Baku weekend is as follows: - Wednesday 23 September: Drivers’ press conference at 11:00 am, followed by the "Paddock Uncut" interview segment at 2:00 pm.
- Thursday 24 September: F2 practice at 6:55 am, Azerbaijan GP Practice One beginning at 9:30 am, F2 qualifying at 10:55 am, Team Bosses’ press conference at 12:00 pm, Practice Two at 1:00 pm, and the F1 Show at 2:15 pm. - Friday 25 September: F2 sprint race at 5:10 am, Practice Three at 9:30 am, F2 Feature Race 1 at 11:10 am, qualifying build‑up at 12:30 pm, the official Grand Prix qualifying session at 1:00 pm, and a post‑qualifying analysis segment at 3:00 pm. - Saturday 26 September: F2 Feature Race 2 at 7:55 am, Grand Prix build‑up at 10:30 am, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix itself starting at 12:00 pm, chequered‑flag reaction at 2:00 pm, and a final recap notebook at 3:00 pm.
All sessions will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event, with additional streaming available via NOW for viewers who prefer an online platform without a long‑term contract. Beyond the on‑track action, Hadjar’s comeback carries a narrative of resilience and determination. Recovering from a wrist injury for a driver is particularly challenging because precise steering input, rapid gear changes, and the constant physical strain of cornering at high G‑forces all rely heavily on hand and forearm strength.
Medical staff reported that Hadjar completed a tailored rehabilitation program that included physiotherapy, strength conditioning, and simulated driving exercises to ensure his wrist could withstand the rigors of a Formula 1 weekend. The driver himself has spoken about the mental side of the recovery, noting that staying engaged with the team during his time off helped maintain his focus and motivation. He continued to attend debriefs, study telemetry, and work with the engineering crew on car set‑up, which he believes will give him a smoother transition back to full race pace.
Red Bull’s strategic handling of the situation—promoting Lawson, utilizing Tsunoda, and now reintegrating Hadjar—illustrates the depth of talent within the organization and its ability to adapt quickly to unforeseen setbacks. The team’s acknowledgment of each driver’s contribution reflects a culture that values professionalism and collective success. Fans can look forward to seeing Hadjar in the Baku practice sessions, where he will likely focus on rebuilding confidence in the car’s handling, fine‑tuning his brake balance, and gathering data to aid the team’s development work for the remainder of the season.
If he can recapture the form that earned him a podium in Monaco, he will not only close the points gap to his teammates but also reinforce Red Bull’s claim to a dominant position in the 2026 championship. Overall, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix will be a pivotal moment for Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing, and the broader F1 narrative, as the sport continues to blend high‑speed competition with stories of personal triumph and technical excellence.