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Wrist injury casts doubt on Isack Hadjar’s Dutch Grand Prix participation
Red Bull is reportedly preparing contingency plans for the Zandvoort weekend as Isack Hadjar struggles with a training injury.
By Nadia van Leeuwen - 2026-08-19T07:52:47.000Z - 2 min read
Isack Hadjar’s participation in this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix hangs in the balance following reports that the Red Bull driver has sustained a wrist injury. The incident is said to have occurred during a routine gym session over the Formula 1 summer break, casting a shadow over the team’s preparations for Zandvoort.
While official confirmation from the Red Bull camp is still pending, the situation has already triggered speculation regarding a potential last-minute change to the grid. Team principal Laurent Mekies and the wider leadership at Milton Keynes are reportedly weighing their options should the French driver be deemed unfit to compete.
Rumours circulating in the paddock point toward a shock return for Liam Lawson as the primary candidate to step in should Hadjar be sidelined. Lawson, who saw his tenure at the senior team cut short just two rounds into the 2025 season, is reportedly being positioned as the immediate replacement to partner Max Verstappen for his home race.
The potential reshuffle would have a ripple effect throughout the Red Bull stable, including the Racing Bulls operation. Unconfirmed reports suggest that if Lawson is promoted to the senior squad, Yuki Tsunoda is being lined up to fill the vacancy at the junior team for the duration of the Dutch event.
Tsunoda has remained on the sidelines since his departure from the F1 grid at the conclusion of last season, leaving him well-placed to act as a reserve option for the organisation. However, as of this morning, neither team has issued a formal statement to confirm the driver lineup or address the severity of Hadjar’s condition.
The timing of the injury adds a layer of irony, as Zandvoort was the site of Lawson’s unexpected Formula 1 debut in 2023 when he replaced the injured Daniel Ricciardo. For Hadjar, the coastal circuit is equally significant, having served as the location for his maiden podium finish during a standout rookie campaign that secured his current promotion.
With the Italian Grand Prix at Monza scheduled for September 6, any withdrawal this weekend would provide Hadjar with a two-week window for recovery. For now, the team continues to evaluate the situation behind closed doors, leaving the final driver configuration for the weekend unresolved as the paddock arrives in the Netherlands.