Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar will not participate in this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix after sustaining a wrist injury during the summer break. The Frenchman’s absence from the season-resuming event at the Circuit Zandvoort means that Liam Lawson will step up from Racing Bulls to replace him in the Red Bull RB22.
Lawson’s temporary promotion marks an opportunity for the New Zealander, who previously had a two-round stint with Red Bull at the beginning of the 2025 season. During that period, he was demoted back to Racing Bulls following what were described as two lacklustre performances. This weekend, Lawson will be up against Max Verstappen, who will be competing in his home race for the final time in Zandvoort, as the event is set to be removed from the calendar after this season due to financial viability concerns.
Lawson’s return and Tsunoda’s re-entry
Lawson’s return to Red Bull comes after impressing for Racing Bulls this year, where he has been performing consistently. He is currently considered the ‘best of the rest’ in terms of points won within the midfield. His temporary move to Red Bull means his seat at Racing Bulls will be filled by Yuki Tsunoda, who was previously a Red Bull racer but lost his full-time drive at the end of last season. Tsunoda was then reassigned to a test and reserve driver role for both teams.
Red Bull issued an official statement confirming Hadjar’s injury, stating that it occurred during the summer shutdown and would prevent him from racing at the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix. The team also expressed their well wishes for Hadjar’s recovery and thanked Lawson for stepping in at short notice. Racing Bulls also acknowledged the adaptability of both Lawson and Tsunoda as they prepare for the weekend, while also wishing Hadjar a swift recovery.
For Lawson, this unexpected outing is seen as a significant chance to demonstrate his improvements as an F1 driver. Despite the short notice and unfamiliarity with the Red Bull RB22, which is described as not an easy car to drive, the situation presents a no-downside, all-potential-upside weekend for him. His previous promotion in 2025 was considered by some to have set him up for failure, with the team axing him before giving him sufficient time and backing.
Team dynamics and future implications
The current Red Bull team is described as different from the one in 2025, with Laurent Mekies, who has previously worked with Lawson, now involved. This could potentially provide Lawson with the support and confidence he may have lacked in his earlier stint. Lawson has been under pressure regarding his seat for 2027, despite his strong performances this season, which have established him as a good F1 midfielder. The continuous driver conveyor belt at Red Bull and the need to find a place for Formula 2 championship leader Nikola Tsolov mean Lawson’s position is not yet secure.
This weekend’s performance is therefore crucial for Lawson to underline his place in Formula 1, whether it be with Racing Bulls next year or another team in the midfield. His consistent performance this year, building on momentum from last season after steering changes improved his feel for the car, and his adaptation to new power units, highlight his development. The focus for Lawson will be on the process rather than the results, given the challenging circumstances of being thrown into the RB22 at short notice against a driver like Verstappen.
Meanwhile, Red Bull has faced a challenging first half of 2026, with four-time world champion Max Verstappen yet to secure a race win. His best results this year have been second-place finishes at the Austrian and Hungarian Grands Prix. Verstappen concluded the 2025 season just two points behind world champion Lando Norris of McLaren, following a strong revival in the latter half of that season where he gained over 100 points on the championship leader.
Hadjar, who is currently eighth in the standings and had a run of seven Grands Prix in the points, will now focus on recovery from his wrist injury, which is understood to have occurred while boxing.
Source: bbc.com