Red Bull has confirmed that Isack Hadjar will miss this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix after suffering a wrist injury during the Formula 1 summer break.
Hadjar’s absence has triggered a major reshuffle within the Red Bull stable, with Liam Lawson stepping up from Racing Bulls to partner Max Verstappen at the senior team for the race at Zandvoort.
Red Bull confirmed that Hadjar sustained the injury during the summer shutdown and will be unable to compete in the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix.
“Oracle Red Bull Racing driver Isack Hadjar has sustained a wrist injury during the summer shutdown that will prevent him from racing at the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix,” the team said.
Lawson will therefore return to the Red Bull seat for the weekend, giving the New Zealander another opportunity to compete alongside Verstappen after being demoted from the senior team in 2025.
The 24-year-old previously made his Formula 1 debut at Zandvoort in 2023, replacing the injured Daniel Ricciardo. He will now return to the same circuit in very different circumstances, taking over a Red Bull RB22 for the Sprint weekend.
Lawson’s promotion has also created an opening at Racing Bulls, with former Red Bull driver and current reserve driver Yuki Tsunoda returning to the race seat alongside rookie Arvid Lindblad.
The change comes at an unfortunate moment for Hadjar, who has enjoyed a strong first season with Red Bull and currently sits eighth in the 2026 drivers’ championship.
The Dutch Grand Prix is particularly significant for the French driver because Zandvoort is where he claimed his first Formula 1 podium last season while racing for Racing Bulls.
Hadjar’s absence is expected to be temporary, with the focus now on his recovery ahead of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.
For Lawson, meanwhile, the unexpected promotion represents another chance to impress Red Bull’s management and potentially remind the team of his ability after a difficult spell with the senior squad last season.
The Dutch Grand Prix will be the 12th round of the 2026 Formula 1 season and will feature a Sprint format, meaning Lawson will have an immediate opportunity to make an impact across a busy weekend.
