Isack Hadjar will return to the Red Bull cockpit this weekend for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku, the team has confirmed. The Isack Hadjar Red Bull return ends a three race absence caused by a wrist injury suffered in training before August’s Dutch Grand Prix. Liam Lawson, who deputised for Hadjar during that spell, now steps back to Racing Bulls for the rest of the season. The switch resets Red Bull’s line-up just as the Baku City Circuit weekend gets under way.
Isack Hadjar Confirmed for Red Bull Return in Baku
Red Bull confirmed the news in a short statement released ahead of the Baku weekend. The Frenchman missed three grands prix after picking up the wrist injury in training, a setback that forced the team to lean on Lawson at short notice. With Hadjar now cleared, Red Bull have moved quickly to get their regular line-up back in place before a demanding street circuit weekend.
The timing matters. Baku is unforgiving on drivers and cars alike, with narrow run-off and long straights that punish the smallest error. Getting a fully fit Hadjar back in the seat, rather than easing him in gradually, shows how confident the team are in his recovery.
Red Bull Statement Details Hadjar Recovery and Baku Entry
In the statement confirming the change, the team said: “Oracle Red Bull Racing is delighted to welcome Isack [Hadjar] back this weekend.” Red Bull went further on the timeline, adding: “Having made a successful recovery from his wrist injury, Isack will return to action at the Baku City Circuit on Thursday.”
The injury was picked up in training ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix in August and kept Hadjar out of three consecutive rounds. Red Bull have not gone into detail on exactly how the injury happened; the statement focuses only on the fact that his recovery is complete and that he’s fit to resume normal duties. Supporters can read the full announcement via the official statement from Red Bull, released as the line-up change was confirmed.
Lawson Rejoins Racing Bulls as Line-Up Realigns
Liam Lawson’s temporary promotion ends after three races standing in for Hadjar. He now returns to Racing Bulls, where he’ll line up alongside Arvid Lindblad for the remainder of the season. Red Bull were generous in their praise for his efforts, saying: “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. We wish him all the very best as he returns to Visa Cash App Racing Bulls.”
Lawson’s spell wasn’t the only knock-on effect of Hadjar’s absence. Yuki Tsunoda had been drafted in to cover at Racing Bulls, and that stint ends too now that Hadjar is back. Tsunoda’s highlight came at Monza, where he crossed the line tenth to collect a single point, his only score during the reshuffle. It was a solid if unspectacular contribution, and he now steps aside as the grid reverts to its pre-injury shape.
The reshuffle shows how tightly Red Bull now run their driver pool across both the senior team and Racing Bulls, moving drivers between garages to cover injuries without disrupting either programme. We’ve tracked similar pressure on that structure before, including in our earlier report on the challenges facing Red Bull’s driver planning.
Marquez Consultation and Baku Race Weekend Timeline
Before committing to a return date, Hadjar sought advice from MotoGP champion Marc Marquez, who has faced his own lengthy recoveries from injury during his career. Marquez’s advice was simple: don’t rush back. The Isack Hadjar Red Bull return only came once Red Bull were satisfied his wrist had fully healed, suggesting he took that counsel seriously rather than pushing to get back at the earliest opportunity.
It’s a reminder that recovery advice increasingly crosses over between motorsport disciplines; we touched on that theme in our look at recent MotoGP rider movements earlier this season. Hadjar is due back in the car at the Baku City Circuit from Thursday, when the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend begins. Fans will get their first proper look at how the wrist holds up once running gets under way.
