Red Bull will wait until shortly before the Azerbaijan Grand Prix before deciding whether Isack Hadjar is fit to return to Formula 1, with team principal Laurent Mekies confirming that the French driver’s recovery from a left wrist injury is progressing according to plan.
Hadjar has now missed three consecutive Grands Prix, with Liam Lawson replacing him alongside Max Verstappen at Zandvoort, Monza and most recently Madrid. Red Bull remains optimistic about a possible comeback in Baku on 26 September, but Mekies has made clear that the team will not put its driver back in the car until he feels completely ready.
Isack Hadjar misses third consecutive Grand Prix
The Spanish Grand Prix began without Hadjar on the grid once again. The Frenchman, competing in his first season with Red Bull, suffered a left wrist injury during the summer break and was forced to sit out the Dutch Grand Prix, the first race after the shutdown.
He was then unable to return for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza and also withdrew from the Madrid weekend, prompting Red Bull to continue with Lawson as his replacement alongside Max Verstappen.
The decision not to bring Hadjar back for the Spanish Grand Prix was straightforward, according to Mekies. Red Bull’s only criterion is whether the driver feels fully fit, rather than attempting to accelerate the comeback for competitive reasons.
Laurent Mekies explains Red Bull’s return criteria
“It was an easy decision,” Mekies told Sky Sports F1. “He didn’t feel that he was 100% fit, and that’s the only criterion we use.”
“We have always said that the priority is for him to come back fully fit. There was no point putting him on track here when he wasn’t feeling well and potentially risking delaying his full recovery. That was the assessment we made.”
The cautious approach means Hadjar’s return will depend entirely on his physical condition rather than Red Bull’s immediate sporting needs. With the team already managing a difficult 2026 campaign, Mekies is unwilling to create a longer-term problem by asking Hadjar to return too early.
Red Bull optimistic about possible Hadjar return in Baku
The next opportunity for Hadjar to return will come at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on the Baku street circuit. The race takes place on 26 September, giving the Frenchman additional recovery time after Madrid.
Mekies is encouraged by the progress so far but stopped short of guaranteeing that Hadjar will reclaim the car in Azerbaijan.
“We have a little more time before Baku,” Mekies added. “Honestly, the recovery is going smoothly and according to plan. Some things take time; so we will take the necessary time to make the assessments before Baku and to get him working in the simulator.”
The simulator session will therefore form an important part of Red Bull’s evaluation before a final decision is made. If Hadjar is not judged to be fully ready, Lawson remains the obvious alternative after already covering the previous three race weekends.
For now, Red Bull’s position remains unchanged: Hadjar’s recovery is moving in the right direction, but the team will prioritise a complete recovery over rushing him back for Baku.
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