Isack Hadjar returns for Azerbaijan GP after three-race wrist injury absence
Synopsis
Isack Hadjar missed three consecutive F1 rounds with a wrist injury, triggering a ripple effect across two teams. Now fit for Baku, his return ends Liam Lawson's impressive Red Bull cameo — seventh in the Dutch GP, sixth at the Madring — and sends Yuki Tsunoda back to reserve duties. The Azerbaijan GP itself adds another twist: it's a Saturday race, not the usual Sunday slot.
Key Takeaways
Isack Hadjar returns to the Red Bull RB22 for the Azerbaijan GP at Baku City Circuit after missing races at Zandvoort , Monza , and Madring with a wrist injury.
Liam Lawson deputised at Red Bull across three rounds, finishing seventh (Dutch GP), 14th (Italian GP), and sixth (Spanish GP) during his stand-in stint.
Lawson returns to Visa Cash App Racing Bulls ; Yuki Tsunoda reverts to reserve duties after covering Lawson's seat.
The Azerbaijan GP main race is scheduled for Saturday , with practice on Thursday and qualifying on Friday .
Red Bull confirmed Hadjar's return in an official statement on Tuesday, 22 September 2026 .
Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar is set to make his comeback at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix this weekend, the team confirmed on Tuesday, 22 September 2026, after the Frenchman missed the previous three rounds due to a wrist injury sustained during the summer shutdown in August. Hadjar will return to the RB22 alongside four-time world champion Max Verstappen at the Baku City Circuit.
How the Injury Unfolded
Hadjar suffered the wrist injury during the summer break, ruling him out of races at Zandvoort, Monza, and the new Madring circuit. In his absence, Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson was promoted to partner Verstappen at Red Bull. Over at Racing Bulls, Yuki Tsunoda stepped in as Lawson's replacement for those three rounds.
Lawson Returns to Racing Bulls, Tsunoda Back to Reserve
With Hadjar fit to race, the driver reshuffle now reverses: Lawson returns to the Visa Cash App Racing Bulls outfit, and Tsunoda reverts to reserve duties. Red Bull's statement paid tribute to Lawson's contribution during his temporary promotion.
'Oracle Red Bull Racing is delighted to welcome Isack back this weekend,' the Milton Keynes-based team said. 'The team would like to sincerely 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.'
Lawson's Performances During Stand-In Stint
Lawson made the most of his Red Bull opportunity across the three rounds. The New Zealander finished seventh at the Dutch GP — a race where Verstappen crashed out in what was reportedly the final Dutch GP in the foreseeable future on the F1 calendar. Lawson was 14th at the Italian GP at Monza, before recovering to take sixth place at the subsequent Spanish GP at the Madring circuit.
Azerbaijan GP Schedule and Format
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix follows a compressed weekend format. Two practice sessions are scheduled for Thursday, with a final practice and qualifying taking place on Friday. Unusually, the main race is set for Saturday rather than the typical Sunday slot — a scheduling distinction that teams and fans should note ahead of the Baku City Circuit event.
Hadjar's return will be closely watched as Red Bull assess how their full driver lineup performs over the remainder of the season.
Point of View
And the New Zealander largely delivered — especially a seventh-place finish in a chaotic Dutch GP. Red Bull's smooth handling of the three-way reshuffle across two sister teams reflects the value of a deep driver pool, but it also raises an uncomfortable question: with Lawson demonstrably ready for a top seat, what is his long-term pathway? Tsunoda's repeated role as a stopgap similarly deserves scrutiny. The Baku weekend will tell us whether Hadjar, returning to a high-street circuit, can reassert himself before any lingering performance comparisons with Lawson take root in team thinking.
NationPress
22 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Isack Hadjar miss the last three F1 races?
Isack Hadjar sustained a wrist injury during the F1 summer shutdown in August 2026, ruling him out of races at Zandvoort, Monza, and the Madring circuit. Red Bull confirmed he has made a successful recovery ahead of the Azerbaijan GP.
Who replaced Isack Hadjar at Red Bull during his absence?
Liam Lawson, a Racing Bulls driver, stepped up to partner Max Verstappen at Red Bull for the three rounds Hadjar missed. Lawson finished seventh at the Dutch GP, 14th at the Italian GP, and sixth at the Spanish GP.
What happens to Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda now that Hadjar is back?
Lawson returns to the Visa Cash App Racing Bulls team, his regular seat. Yuki Tsunoda, who had filled in for Lawson at Racing Bulls during those three rounds, reverts to reserve driver duties.
When is the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix race day?
The Azerbaijan GP main race is scheduled for Saturday — unlike the standard Sunday format used in most F1 rounds. Practice sessions are on Thursday, with final practice and qualifying on Friday at the Baku City Circuit.
How has Liam Lawson performed in his Red Bull stand-in role?
Lawson impressed overall, scoring a seventh-place finish at the Dutch GP — a race in which Verstappen crashed out — before taking sixth at the Spanish GP at the Madring circuit. His Italian GP result of 14th was more subdued.
