Isack Hadjar to miss third straight F1 race as Liam Lawson stays at Red Bull for Spanish GP
Liam Lawson continues as Red Bull's F1 driver for Madrid, replacing injured Isack Hadjar who remains sidelined.
- Red Bull confirmed Hadjar will miss the Spanish GP due to a wrist injury sustained boxing.
- Lawson has deputized for Hadjar for three consecutive races, including Madrid.
- Yuki Tsunoda remains at Racing Bulls, with no change in driver line-up for this weekend.
Isack Hadjar has been sidelined for a third consecutive F1 race at the Spanish Grand Prix due to a wrist injury from boxing. Red Bull has confirmed Liam Lawson will continue to deputize for Hadjar in Madrid, maintaining his position after previous races. The team also confirmed Yuki Tsunoda remains with Racing Bulls, with no driver changes for this event. The decision underscores the team's reliance on Lawson as a consistent substitute while Hadjar recovers.
Isack Hadjar will sit out the Spanish Grand Prix as he continues to recover from a wrist injury sustained during training over the summer break. Red Bull confirmed Monday that Liam Lawson will remain alongside Max Verstappen for a third consecutive race weekend, with Yuki Tsunoda also continuing at the sister Racing Bulls team.
Hadjar fractured his wrist while boxing in the off-season, forcing him to miss the Dutch and Italian Grands Prix earlier this year. Despite positive progress in his rehabilitation, the 21-year-old French driver is not yet fit to return behind the wheel. Red Bull said Hadjar will be present at the Madrid event to support the team but will not compete. The team expressed optimism about his return “very soon,” though no specific timeline has been set.
Lawson, who initially stepped in for Hadjar at Zandvoort and then Monza, has delivered mixed results, finishing seventh and 14th respectively. Meanwhile, Tsunoda has maintained his seat at Racing Bulls, posting 11th and 10th-place finishes in those races. The Spanish Grand Prix marks the first visit to the new Madring street circuit, adding a fresh challenge for the drivers and teams.
Hadjar’s absence means Lawson will have competed in three races for Red Bull this season, surpassing his appearances last year when he was dropped mid-season. The two-week break following Madrid before the Azerbaijan Grand Prix offers Hadjar additional time to recover, but it remains unclear if he will be ready to return for the triple-header that begins in Baku.
With Hadjar sidelined, Red Bull’s driver lineup remains stable for now, allowing Lawson to gain more Formula 1 experience while the team awaits the Frenchman’s full recovery. The situation will be closely monitored as the season progresses and the championship battle intensifies.
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