Isack Hadjar Reclaims Red Bull Seat for Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Isack Hadjar is set to return to Red Bull this weekend for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku, ending a three-race absence caused by a wrist injury sustained over the summer break. Liam Lawson steps back to Racing Bulls as part of the swap.

Hadjar picked up the wrist injury during training over the summer and was advised by doctors to stay off the car while he recovered. Liam Lawson deputised for him at Red Bull starting with the Dutch Grand Prix, while Yuki Tsunoda moved up from his reserve role to cover Lawson’s seat at Racing Bulls.

That arrangement held for three grands prix as Hadjar focused on his recovery. Lawson remained in the Red Bull seat through the Italian and Spanish rounds, with Tsunoda continuing to fill in at Racing Bulls throughout.

Lawson scored 14 points across his three starts for Red Bull. Monza was his only scoreless weekend of the stretch, a result shaped by a string of power unit penalties and later contact with Nico Hulkenberg that damaged his front wing and forced an unplanned pit stop. Tsunoda finished tenth in that same race. He came close to a point at Zandvoort too, only for Pierre Gasly to snatch tenth from him late in the contest.

Red Bull issued a statement thanking Lawson for his efforts during the stint: “The team would like to thank Liam for his professionalism, dedication, and hard work over the past three races. Stepping in under challenging circumstances, he delivered some impressive performances and made a valuable contribution to the team.”

Hadjar’s return in Baku marks his first time back behind the wheel of an F1 car since the Hungarian Grand Prix in July. His points total actually grew during the layoff, though, after his third-place finish at the Monaco Grand Prix was reinstated.

That reversal came after McLaren and Red Bull successfully appealed the post-race decision to rescind Pierre Gasly’s two five-second penalties for speeding in the pitlane, a ruling that pushed Hadjar back onto the podium.

Hadjar also leaned on advice from MotoGP champion Marc Marquez while managing his recovery. Marquez fractured his arm in 2020, an injury that worsened significantly after he attempted to return to competition too soon, leading to multiple surgeries on the same arm in the years that followed.

Marquez told Hadjar: “I learned in the past that missing one race will not change your life. Worsening your injury because you ride too early, can change your life.”

With Hadjar back in the Red Bull cockpit for Baku, attention now turns to how quickly he can rediscover his rhythm on one of the calendar’s most unforgiving street circuits. Stay with TipsGG for continued coverage of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and the rest of the F1 season.