Isack Hadjar will miss this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix after suffering a wrist injury during a boxing training session in Formula 1’s summer break, forcing Red Bull to make a late change to its driver line-up.
Liam Lawson has been called up from Racing Bulls to take Hadjar’s place alongside Max Verstappen, while Yuki Tsunoda will return to the starting grid with Racing Bulls.
Red Bull confirmed on Wednesday that Hadjar’s injury would prevent him from competing at Zandvoort.
The Frenchman had been preparing for his first Dutch Grand Prix as a Red Bull driver after stepping up to the senior team for the 2026 season.
The team has not provided further details about the injury, but reports indicate that it occurred during boxing training.
Hadjar’s absence is particularly notable because Zandvoort is where he’s had one of the standout moments of his career so far. Last year, as a Racing Bulls driver, he secured his first podium finish at the circuit.
He finished second behind Oscar Piastri after a strong drive in difficult conditions, giving him his first F1 podium, which helped to propel him as one of Red Bull’s most promising young drivers.
Lawson will now make his third appearance for Red Bull’s senior team. The New Zealander has remained with Racing Bulls this season, but his previous experience with Red Bull made him the natural choice to step in at short notice.
His previous appearances for the senior team came under difficult circumstances, and this latest opportunity could give him a chance to demonstrate how he performs with more preparation and knowledge of the car.
The switch also gives Tsunoda another opportunity in Formula 1. The Japanese driver had been serving as Red Bull’s test and reserve driver after losing his full-time seat, but he will now replace Lawson at Racing Bulls and race alongside Arvid Lindblad.
Tsunoda already knows the Racing Bulls operation well, having spent previous seasons with the team before moving to Red Bull.
That familiarity should make the temporary return relatively straightforward, although he will have limited preparation time before the weekend begins.
Leon Osamor
