Isack Hadjar returns to Red Bull for Azerbaijan Grand Prix after wrist injury

Lineup shifts at Red Bull and Racing Bulls

French driver Isack Hadjar will return to his Red Bull seat alongside Max Verstappen for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The 21-year-old missed the Dutch, Italian, and Spanish Grands Prix after sustaining a left wrist injury in training during the summer break. During his three-race absence, New Zealander Liam Lawson filled the second Red Bull seat, collecting 14 points and finishing in the top ten in two of those rounds.

With Hadjar cleared to race, the Red Bull driver roster will return to its previous structure. Lawson will head back to Racing Bulls to partner British rookie Arvid Lindblad, who has made several Q3 qualifying appearances this season. Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda, who took Lawson's seat at Racing Bulls during the interim period, will step back into his reserve role. Tsunoda reflected on his temporary stint before stepping aside.

I gave my best and have nothing to regret.

Injury recovery and the Baku weekend schedule

Hadjar last competed on 26 July at the Hungaroring in Budapest before his injury hiatus. Following medical clearance and a simulator session, Red Bull confirmed his return to active competition on Tuesday. The team formally commended Lawson for his contributions during the substitution period while confirming the race schedule.

Having made a successful recovery from his wrist injury, Isack will return to action at the Baku City Circuit on Thursday.

Hadjar spoke about the recovery process and his readiness to return to the car ahead of the upcoming race.

I am really looking forward to getting back in the car. The past month was difficult for me; it was the first time in my life that I was not racing and that is a strange feeling. Immediately after suffering the injury, I focused fully on my recovery so that I could get back to work as quickly as possible.

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix runs under a non-standard timetable at the Baku City Circuit from 24 to 26 September. Free practice sessions will start on Thursday, qualifying will take place on Friday, and the Grand Prix itself will run on Saturday rather than Sunday because of Azerbaijan's national Remembrance Day.

Championship standings and season metrics

Hadjar enters the Baku round holding eighth place in the Drivers' Championship with 71 points in his second Formula 1 campaign. That leaves him 12 points ahead of Lawson and 49 points behind McLaren driver Oscar Piastri. Hadjar previously scored a podium finish at the Monaco Grand Prix this season, a result confirmed after an FIA Court of Appeal ruling reinstated penalties against Alpine driver Pierre Gasly.

The return puts competitive focus back on intra-team scoring rates across the Red Bull garage. Before the summer break, Hadjar averaged 6.5 points per race while Verstappen averaged 9.9. Across the three rounds Hadjar missed in Zandvoort, Monza, and Madrid, Verstappen's scoring average rose to 12 points per race, despite an accident at the Dutch Grand Prix.