RED BULL MAKES OFFICIAL LIAM LAWSON DECISION AFTER ISACK HADJAR’S DUTCH GP INJURY..Red Bull Makes Official Liam Lawson Decision After Isack Hadjar’s Dutch GP Injury
Red Bull Racing has officially confirmed Liam Lawson as the replacement for Isack Hadjar at the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix, following a wrist injury that ruled the French driver out of the Formula 1 weekend at Zandvoort.
The decision was announced on August 19, shortly before the Dutch Grand Prix, bringing Lawson back into Red Bull’s senior team for the first time since his brief spell with the outfit at the beginning of the 2025 season. The New Zealander was promoted from Racing Bulls to partner four-time world champion Max Verstappen.
Hadjar’s injury occurred during the summer shutdown. Red Bull confirmed that the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix would come too soon for him to compete, with the team wishing him a speedy recovery. Reports subsequently indicated that the injury involved a small fracture in his wrist, suffered during training that included boxing.
The timing was particularly significant for Hadjar, who had established himself as an important part of Red Bull’s 2026 line-up. Before the injury, the Frenchman had been enjoying a strong run of form and had scored points in seven consecutive Grands Prix. His absence meant Red Bull had to make a rapid decision before the return of Formula 1 action at Zandvoort.
Lawson handed another Red Bull opportunity
For Lawson, the call-up represented a remarkable turnaround. The 24-year-old had started the 2025 season with Red Bull but was moved back to the sister team after only two races, with Yuki Tsunoda taking his place at the senior outfit.
Lawson had since rebuilt his reputation at Racing Bulls and was performing strongly in the midfield. Red Bull therefore turned to him when Hadjar became unavailable.
The decision also created a second change within the Red Bull driver line-up. Yuki Tsunoda, who had been working as a test and reserve driver for the two Red Bull-owned teams, returned to Racing Bulls to take Lawson’s place alongside rookie Arvid Lindblad.
Red Bull’s reshuffle meant that three drivers were affected by a single injury: Hadjar was sidelined, Lawson moved up to Red Bull, and Tsunoda returned to a race seat at Racing Bulls.
Lawson prepares for challenging return
Speaking ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix, Lawson described his return to Red Bull as both exciting and challenging. The driver had very little time to prepare for the change and was immediately expected to work alongside Verstappen during a Sprint weekend.
Lawson’s previous experience with the senior team meant that he was familiar with Red Bull’s environment, but his return still required him to adapt quickly to the car, engineers and procedures.
His first Red Bull opportunity in 2025 had lasted only two races, making the Dutch Grand Prix another chance to demonstrate his progress since returning to Racing Bulls. Formula 1 reported that Lawson understood the difficulty of stepping into the team at short notice but welcomed the opportunity.
The Dutch Grand Prix also carried additional significance because it was Verstappen’s home race. With Hadjar unavailable, Lawson found himself alongside the championship contender at one of the busiest weekends of the season.
Focus turns to Hadjar’s recovery
For Red Bull, the immediate priority was allowing Hadjar sufficient time to recover rather than rushing him back into competition.
Hadjar had been scheduled to race at Zandvoort before the injury changed those plans. His absence was particularly notable because the circuit had already played an important role in his Formula 1 career, including his first podium in 2025 while racing for Racing Bulls.
Red Bull’s decision provided Lawson with an unexpected opportunity while giving Hadjar additional time to recover from the wrist problem.
The move was officially described as a replacement for the Dutch Grand Prix rather than a permanent change to Red Bull’s driver line-up. At that stage, Lawson’s promotion was therefore linked directly to Hadjar’s injury and recovery.
The situation highlighted the importance of reserve and substitute drivers in Formula 1, where injuries can force teams to reorganise their line-ups with very little notice. For Lawson, it represented another opportunity at the highest level, while Hadjar’s priority became returning to full fitness before getting back behind the wheel.
With the Dutch Grand Prix approaching, all eyes were therefore on Lawson’s second opportunity with Red Bull and on Hadjar’s progress away from the circuit.
