Red Bull’s young French driver, Isack Hadjar, is poised to get back behind the wheel at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix following a three‑race hiatus 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 injuring his wrist while undertaking a fitness routine during the summer break in August.
Hadjar’s return will be marked during the Thursday practice sessions at the Baku City Circuit, as the weekend’s timetable has been shifted forward by a day to avoid overlapping with Azerbaijan Remembrance Day. In a statement released on Tuesday morning, Oracle Red Bull Racing expressed enthusiasm about the Frenchman’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." During Hadjar’s absence, Liam Lawson was elevated from the Racing Bulls squad to fill his seat at Red Bull, while reserve driver Yuki Tsunoda stepped into the Racing Bulls lineup.
Red Bull praised Lawson’s contribution, noting that he performed admirably under challenging circumstances and added valuable points for the team. The organization also extended gratitude to Tsunoda for his professionalism and effort over the three races, acknowledging his role in keeping the junior team competitive. The Frenchman’s first half‑season with Red Bull was solid, highlighted by a podium finish in Monaco and a steady accumulation of points that left him eighth in the Drivers’ Championship before his injury.
At that point, he trailed McLaren’s Oscar Piastri by 23 points; the gap has now widened to 49 points due to his missed races. Prior to the summer break, Hadjar was 38 points behind Verstappen after the Hungarian Grand Prix, but the deficit has grown to 74 points after his three‑race absence. The Azerbaijan Grand Prix marks the opening of a three‑race swing that will continue with events in Malaysia and Singapore over the next two weekends.
The schedule for the Baku weekend is as follows: - Wednesday, 23 September: Drivers’ press conference at 11:00 am. - Thursday, 24 September: F2 practice at 6:55 am, Azerbaijan GP Practice 1 at 9:30 am, F2 qualifying at 10:55 am, Team bosses’ press conference at 12:00 pm, Practice 2 at 1:00 pm, and The F1 Show at 2:15 pm. - Friday, 25 September: F2 sprint at 5:10 am, Practice 3 at 9:30 am, F2 Feature Race 1 at 11:10 am, Qualifying build‑up at 12:30 pm, Azerbaijan GP qualifying at 1:00 pm, followed by Ted’s Qualifying Notebook 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 at 12:00 pm, Chequered flag reaction at 2:00 pm, and Ted’s Notebook at 3:00 pm.
All sessions will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event, with additional coverage available via the NOW streaming platform. Hadjar’s comeback is significant for Red Bull’s championship aspirations. The team has relied heavily on Verstappen’s dominant performances, and a fully fit second driver can provide strategic depth, assist in development work, and potentially challenge for podiums when the car’s balance suits his driving style. Moreover, a healthy Hadjar will help Red Bull maintain pressure on rivals such as Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren throughout the remainder of the 2026 season.
Beyond the immediate race, Hadjar’s return also underscores the importance of driver fitness and injury management in modern Formula 1. The sport’s physical demands—ranging from high‑g cornering forces to the need for precise hand‑eye coordination—mean that even a minor wrist issue can compromise lap times and safety. Red Bull’s medical team reportedly employed a combination of physiotherapy, targeted strength training, and gradual on‑track testing to ensure the Frenchman’s wrist healed without lingering weakness.
Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how quickly Hadjar can regain his pre‑injury form. In his previous outings, he demonstrated a smooth driving rhythm, an ability to manage tyre wear, and a knack for extracting performance from the Red Bull chassis on both street circuits and traditional tracks. If he can translate those qualities back onto the Baku circuit—a venue known for its long straights, tight city‑centre sections, and dramatic elevation changes—he could play a pivotal role in the team’s points haul for the weekend. In summary, Isack Hadjar’s return to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix marks the end of a short but challenging recovery period.
With the support of his team, a grateful acknowledgment of the stand‑in drivers who kept the operation running, and a packed schedule ahead, the young Frenchman is set to re‑enter the fray and aim for a strong performance that could help close the gap to both his teammate and his championship rivals.