Red Bull Racing could be forced to seek FIA approval for an unusual driver swap at the Italian Grand Prix if Isack Hadjar is unable to complete a full race weekend because of his wrist injury.
Hadjar missed the Dutch Grand Prix after suffering a broken wrist during the summer break, reportedly while boxing. Liam Lawson was brought back into Red Bull’s senior team at Zandvoort and delivered a performance that has suddenly made the situation far more complicated. Lawson scored seven points and qualified only 0.115 seconds behind Max Verstappen, giving Red Bull a strong reminder of what the New Zealander can offer.
RED BULL HAVE A BACKUP PLAN FOR MONZA
Hadjar remains Red Bull’s preferred option for Monza, provided he is medically fit and capable of handling the physical demands of the car.
However, the team has reportedly considered an extreme contingency plan. Hadjar could potentially climb into the Red Bull for FP1 at Monza to assess whether his injured wrist can cope with driving. If he decides after the opening session that he cannot safely complete the weekend, Lawson could then be moved from Racing Bulls into the senior Red Bull seat from FP2 onwards.
That would provide Hadjar with an opportunity to test himself without committing to an entire Grand Prix weekend.
There is one significant complication, though: such a mid-weekend driver change would require approval from the FIA.
WHY LIAM LAWSON COULD GET ANOTHER RED BULL CHANCE
Lawson’s Dutch Grand Prix performance has strengthened his position considerably.
The 24-year-old was originally expected to return to Racing Bulls after serving as Hadjar’s replacement, but his showing at Zandvoort demonstrated that he remains capable of competing at the front of the midfield — and potentially more.
His qualifying performance was particularly noteworthy. Finishing just 0.115 seconds behind Verstappen suggested that Lawson was able to extract strong performance from the Red Bull despite having very little preparation time.
He then secured seventh place in the Grand Prix, collecting seven valuable points and becoming Red Bull’s only points scorer after Verstappen’s early retirement.
For Lawson, another opportunity would therefore be more than simply filling in for an injured driver. It could become another audition for a permanent future with the senior team.
HADJAR’S RECOVERY REMAINS THE PRIORITY
Despite Lawson’s impressive performance, Red Bull’s preferred outcome is reportedly much simpler: Hadjar returns when he is genuinely ready.
The French-Algerian driver has produced a strong campaign and established himself as a valuable member of the Red Bull set-up. Rushing him back simply because a Grand Prix is approaching would carry unnecessary risks.
A wrist injury is particularly relevant for a Formula 1 driver. Steering a modern F1 car involves considerable physical forces, while constant changes of direction and steering inputs can place substantial stress on the hands and wrists.
Hadjar therefore needs to demonstrate more than simply being able to drive the car. He needs to show that he can maintain the required performance throughout practice, qualifying and the race without compromising his recovery.
RED BULL FACE A UNIQUE DRIVER DILEMMA
Red Bull has historically been ruthless when deciding which drivers deserve to remain in its senior team. Max Verstappen has had numerous teammates during his time with the organisation, illustrating how quickly the team’s driver hierarchy can change.
But the current situation is different.
Red Bull is not currently fighting at the very front of the championship, meaning there is arguably less reason to force an injured driver back into the car. Giving Hadjar additional time could be the more sensible long-term strategy.
At the same time, Lawson’s performance has created a tempting alternative. If he gets another opportunity and produces another strong result, Red Bull would have even more evidence that he deserves serious consideration for a future senior-team role.
THE FIA COULD HOLD THE KEY
The most intriguing part of the situation is the proposed FP1-to-FP2 switch.
Formula 1 teams normally nominate their drivers for a race weekend, so replacing a driver after the opening practice session is not something Red Bull can simply decide to do without considering the governing body’s regulations.
If Hadjar participates in FP1 before stepping aside, Red Bull would need the FIA to approve Lawson taking over the car for the remainder of the weekend.
That makes the team’s contingency plan dependent on both Hadjar’s physical condition and regulatory approval.
For now, Red Bull’s ideal scenario remains Hadjar returning fully fit at Monza. But if his wrist fails the test in FP1, Lawson could once again find himself in the spotlight — and this time, his unexpected return could last far longer than one Grand Prix.
The situation also carries major implications for Red Bull’s future driver decisions. Hadjar’s recovery, Lawson’s form and the team’s willingness to gamble on either driver could all shape one of the most closely watched seats on the Formula 1 grid.
