Red Bull has confirmed that Liam Lawson will replace the injured Isack Hadjar at the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix after the French driver suffered a wrist injury during a gym session. Yuki Tsunoda will consequently return to Formula 1 with Racing Bulls, partnering Arvid Lindblad at Zandvoort.
The changes mean Red Bull will arrive at the first race after the summer break with a partly unfamiliar driver pairing. Max Verstappen will remain in his usual seat, while Liam Lawson returns to the senior team for what is currently expected to be a one-off appearance.
Liam Lawson replaces Isack Hadjar at Red Bull
Max Verstappen has been Red Bull’s leading figure for a decade and will be the home favourite during the approaching weekend. The Zandvoort grandstands will naturally be dominated by Dutch supporters, with Max Verstappen also unveiling a special helmet for his final Dutch Grand Prix.
The change concerns the second Red Bull seat. Isack Hadjar will miss the opening event after Formula 1’s August break because of the wrist injury he sustained while training in the gym.
The injury will keep the Paris-born driver away from Zandvoort as he begins his recovery. Isack Hadjar will now aim to return for the following round, the Italian Grand Prix at Monza during the first weekend of September.
Red Bull has chosen Liam Lawson to take Isack Hadjar’s place at Zandvoort. The New Zealand driver previously raced for the senior team during the opening two rounds of the 2025 season before being replaced by Yuki Tsunoda.
Liam Lawson will therefore receive a second opportunity alongside Max Verstappen, although the move is currently expected to last for only one Grand Prix. That arrangement could change if complications with Isack Hadjar’s wrist injury delay his recovery.
Yuki Tsunoda returns to Formula 1 with Racing Bulls
Liam Lawson’s temporary promotion leaves Racing Bulls needing a replacement for the Dutch Grand Prix, but the Faenza-based team already has an experienced option available.
Yuki Tsunoda will return to Formula 1 in Liam Lawson’s place. The Japanese driver has not competed in the world championship since the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, when he made his final appearance as a Red Bull driver.
Yuki Tsunoda will partner Arvid Lindblad, completing the Racing Bulls line-up for Zandvoort and ensuring that none of the four seats within the Red Bull organisation is left vacant.
The revised pairings will make the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix weekend especially significant for Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda, with both drivers receiving unexpected opportunities as Formula 1 begins the second half of its season.
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