Isack Hadjar injured! Liam Lawson steps in, Tsunoda makes F1 comeback

The first rumours of a possible injury to Isack Hadjar had already been doing the rounds, and now the Red Bull Racing team has confirmed that the Frenchman will not be competing at the upcoming race weekend in Zandvoort. The reason: he sustained a wrist injury during the summer break.

The Milton Keynes-based team has remained tight-lipped about how and when the incident occurred. One thing is certain: Hadjar is likely to be particularly frustrated at being unable to take part in the Grand Prix. Not only because a sprint weekend is being held at Zandvoort and there are consequently plenty of points up for grabs. The 21-year-old also celebrated his first – and so far only – Grand Prix podium at the dune circuit a year ago.

Liam Lawson has been chosen as his replacement; he contested the first two World Championship rounds last year for the Red Bull Racing team alongside Max Verstappen, but subsequently had to vacate his seat to make way for Yuki Tsunoda. The New Zealander was allowed to contest the remainder of the season for the Visa Cash App Racing Bulls team, for whom he is also competing this year. This is not the first time Lawson has stepped in as a last-minute replacement at Zandvoort. Back in 2023, the 24-year-old was called upon by the Faenza-based team – which was then known as the AlphaTauri Team – to stand in for the injured Daniel Ricciardo.

As Lawson is currently racing for the sister team, Red Bull Racing, Tsunoda is now set to make his Formula 1 comeback. The diminutive Japanese driver lost his Red Bull Racing seat to Hadjar at the end of the 2025 season. It is not yet known whether the driver swap will only take place at Zandvoort or whether Hadjar will also be absent for the following weekend’s race at Monza.

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