Withdrawn from Zandvoort after a wrist injury, Isack Hadjar is feeling much better. Red Bull hopes to have their driver back by the Italian Grand Prix.
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The news is reassuring regarding Isack Hadjar. Forced to withdraw from the Dutch Grand Prix after injuring his left wrist, the Frenchman has reportedly seen his condition improve considerably in recent days.
Hadjar was injured during a training session prior to his trip to Zandvoort. With Red Bull, he ultimately preferred to forgo participating in the Dutch weekend as a precaution to avoid worsening the injury.
This decision could pay off as the 21-year-old driver and his team are now optimistic about his participation in the Italian Grand Prix, held next weekend in Monza.
A clear improvement for Hadjar
According to RacingNews365, Hadjar’s wrist is now in much better condition than when the decision to withdraw from the Dutch Grand Prix was made.
Red Bull hopes this incident will remain isolated and that a few additional days of recovery will allow their driver to normally take the wheel of the RB22 in Monza.
However, the team does not intend to take any risks. A definitive decision regarding his participation in the Italian Grand Prix should only be made next Wednesday.
This delay will allow Hadjar to benefit from the maximum possible time to recover before undergoing the final evaluations.
Red Bull will test his ability to get back behind the wheel
Medical examinations should logically assess the progress of his injury, but Red Bull also has another particularly useful tool: their simulator.
A session would verify if Hadjar is capable of enduring without excessive pain the stresses imposed by a Formula 1 car, especially at the steering wheel.
The exact method Red Bull will use to determine his fitness to race is not yet known.
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The main goal will be to ensure that the Frenchman can compete throughout the weekend without risking aggravating an injury that would then have consequences for the rest of his season.
Lawson ready to take over
Hadjar’s withdrawal at Zandvoort triggered a significant game of musical chairs between Red Bull and Racing Bulls.
Liam Lawson was recalled to the main team to support Max Verstappen. The New Zealander seized this opportunity perfectly by delivering an excellent weekend.
After qualifying just a tenth of a second behind Verstappen, Lawson finished the Grand Prix in seventh place, scoring six points on his return to Red Bull.
A particularly notable performance after his very difficult first stint with the team in 2025, when he was demoted to Racing Bulls after only two Grands Prix.
Tsunoda could also stay on track
Lawson’s move also allowed Yuki Tsunoda to regain a seat with Racing Bulls.
The Japanese driver also delivered a solid performance in the Netherlands, finishing eleventh just outside the points and ahead of Arvid Lindblad.
If Hadjar ultimately does not get the green light to participate in the Italian Grand Prix, Red Bull will logically keep the same setup as in Zandvoort: Lawson alongside Verstappen and Tsunoda with Racing Bulls alongside Lindblad.
But this backup solution might not be necessary. The rapid improvement in Hadjar’s wrist condition makes his return in Monza increasingly plausible. The final decision should come Wednesday, after the last evaluations conducted by Red Bull.
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