Reported
Hadjar uncertain for Dutch GP after wrist injury
Isack Hadjar's participation in the Dutch Grand Prix is in doubt due to a wrist injury, potentially opening a Red Bull Racing return for Liam Lawson.
Hadjar’s Dutch GP Participation in Doubt
Isack Hadjar faces uncertainty regarding his participation in the Dutch Grand Prix this month after sustaining a wrist injury during Formula 1's summer break. The Red Bull Racing driver's involvement at Zandvoort, scheduled for Friday, August 21st, at 13:30 Finnish time for the first session of a sprint weekend, is now significantly compromised. While a final decision has not yet been announced, Hadjar being sidelined is considered the most probable outcome, according to The Race.
Potential Driver Shuffles
Should Hadjar be unable to compete, Liam Lawson is being considered as a potential replacement at Red Bull Racing. Lawson, who previously made a brief two-race appearance with the team before his demotion at the beginning of 2025, could therefore make an unexpected return to the main Red Bull outfit. This scenario would in turn create a vacancy at Racing Bulls, which Yuki Tsunoda, currently serving as their reserve driver, would likely fill. Tsunoda previously drove 89 races for the team before his own short-lived promotion to Red Bull Racing last year, replacing Lawson, according to The Race.
Injury Implications and Context
Hadjar's injury occurs at a crucial point in his season, where he had been delivering a solid 2026 performance; he currently ranks eighth in the Drivers' Championship with 68 points. This consistent showing had positioned him strongly for retention at Red Bull’s primary team in 2027. Zandvoort holds particular significance for Hadjar, as it was the venue for his first Formula 1 podium finish last year. Missing this race would grant him two weeks to recover before the subsequent Grand Prix at Monza.
Lawson's Prior Opportunity and Tsunoda's Future
Liam Lawson’s initial Formula 1 racing career also commenced with an injury-related call-up at the Dutch Grand Prix three years ago, when Daniel Ricciardo, then driving for AlphaTauri, fractured his hand in a practice crash. Meanwhile, Yuki Tsunoda, despite his potential return to Racing Bulls, has been without a permanent F1 race seat since losing his Red Bull Racing drive at the end of last year. Reports have linked him this week to a potential IndyCar future, possibly replacing Indianapolis 500 winner Felix Rosenqvist, who is set to return to McLaren’s IndyCar team for 2027.
Status And Sources
This story is labelled Reported, which means a newsroom we cite carries this but the people involved have not confirmed it. The rules behind those labels are in the editorial policy, and the desk that published it is Eero Lahtinen.
Written from the following reporting. Each link goes to the newsroom's own page, not to an aggregator:
- The Racethe-race.com
