Isack Hadjar to miss Dutch Grand Prix with wrist injury as Red Bull brings in Liam Lawson

Wrist fracture rules Hadjar out

Oracle Red Bull Racing confirmed on Wednesday that French driver Isack Hadjar will miss the Dutch Grand Prix following an injury sustained during Formula 1's summer break. The 21-year-old suffered a fracture in his wrist during physical training, with reports citing gym and boxing sessions ahead of the trip to Zandvoort. Medical evaluations confirmed the injury will keep him out of round 12 of the championship, though the team has not specified whether his right or left hand is affected. The withdrawal is a setback for Hadjar, who had prepared a commemorative helmet design celebrating his third-place finish at the track last year. That 2025 result, achieved while driving for Racing Bulls, remains his first and only Formula 1 podium finish.

Isack Hadjar, driver for Oracle Red Bull Racing, sustained a wrist injury during the summer break, which will prevent him from taking the start of the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix.

Lawson called up to partner Verstappen

Red Bull selected New Zealander Liam Lawson to take over Hadjar's seat alongside Max Verstappen for the race weekend in the Netherlands. The 24-year-old from Hastings moves across from the junior outfit Racing Bulls, where he sits ninth in the drivers' standings with 41 points. The temporary promotion represents a return to the senior team for Lawson, who completed two races for Red Bull in the 2025 season. During that spell, he recorded a retirement following an accident at the Australian Grand Prix and a 12th-place finish in China before returning to Racing Bulls. The call-up also mirrors Lawson's 2023 Formula 1 debut at Zandvoort, when he substituted for Daniel Ricciardo after the Australian suffered a broken wrist at AlphaTauri.

Tsunoda returns to the Racing Bulls cockpit

Lawson's shift to the senior team leaves a vacant cockpit at Racing Bulls that will be occupied by reserve driver Yuki Tsunoda. The Japanese driver was dropped from the full-time grid at the end of last season after previously replacing Lawson alongside Verstappen in the main team. Tsunoda will partner rookie Arvid Lindblad in the garage as the team prepares for the weekend's track action. Management praised the readiness of both substitute drivers to alter their plans on short notice.

We thank both Liam and Yuki for their adaptability during the teams' preparations for the weekend and wish Isack a speedy recovery.

Zandvoort stakes and championship standings

The Dutch Grand Prix marks the resumption of the 2026 season and serves as the final iteration of the event at Zandvoort, featuring a sprint race for the first time. Hadjar currently ranks eighth in the world championship with 68 points, trailing seventh-placed Oscar Piastri by 24 points and teammate Verstappen in sixth by 51 points. Verstappen enters his home event targeting a fourth victory at the circuit, while championship leader Kimi Antonelli holds a 50-point advantage over Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton. Red Bull has not yet clarified whether Hadjar will recover in time for round 13 at Monza, which takes place two weeks later.