Liam Lawson will have another chance to race alongside Max Verstappen after Red Bull said injured Isack Hadjar won’t be in action this weekend at the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid. Hadjar has been out for the last two grands prix with a wrist injury but is continuing his recovery and is not yet ready to return to the cockpit.
That means Lawson will make his third consecutive appearance as Verstappen’s teammate. The New Zealander deputised for Hadjar at Zandvoort and Monza but will continue with the senior Red Bull team in Spain. Yuki Tsunoda will once again be on Lawson’s seat at Racing Bulls, making it the third race in succession that the driver line-up has been changed.
Red Bull confirmed the arrangement in a statement saying Lawson would still drive alongside Verstappen in Madrid. The team also said Hadjar was recovering well but that the Frenchman wasn't yet recovered enough to be able to race safely again.
Hadjar Continues Recovery From Wrist Injury
Hadjar injured his left wrist during training over the summer break. He missed the last two races as a result and although he has made encouraging progress in his rehabilitation Red Bull aren’t rushing him back into a Formula 1 car.
The French driver (turns 22 later this month) has had an excellent season and is one of the young guns on the grid but his absence is a big blow to Racing Bulls after he made a memorable podium at Monaco Grand Prix.
Hadjar is eighth in the world championship standings with 71 points and that reflects how well he has got off to his Formula 1 campaign so far. His performances have made him an important part of Red Bull’s wider driver programme and the team will want to see him make a full recovery before returning to action.
Hadjar won’t be racing in Madrid but should be at the Spanish Grand Prix supporting the team. His presence there should allow him to keep connected with the squad while he works on his recovery away from the cockpit.
Lawson Handed Another Opportunity
For Lawson the Spanish Grand Prix is another opportunity to show what he can do at the front of Red Bull’s machine. He has had mixed fortunes since his temporary promotion began.
At Zandvoort Lawson was seventh so it was a good start to his latest stint with Red Bull. His last race at Monza was harder though as the driver only managed 14th place.
The Spanish Grand Prix therefore gives Lawson a chance to show that he can respond to that poor result. Racing alongside Verstappen is pressure but it’s also experience for a driver who wants to get into Red Bull’s long-term plans.
It also means Lawson has to quickly adjust to another race environment (with a different set of engineers and procedures compared with Racing Bulls), as well as working for a new team. Formula 1 drivers are used to rapid changes but getting into someone else’s car is even more pressure.
Tsunoda Returns To Racing Bulls
Lawson goes back into Red Bull’s second seat, but Tsunoda will replace him at Racing Bulls again. So the Japanese driver has become a part of the temporary reshuffle caused by Hadjar’s injury.
Tsunoda will be especially important because Racing Bulls still have points in a tightly bunched midfield and he knows the team and its machinery so should provide stability while Hadjar is out.
The three-driver line-up of Hadjar, Lawson and Tsunoda shows the depth of Red Bull’s driver programme. Hadjar is back in training so Lawson has been given the senior seat while Tsunoda takes over his usual spot at Racing Bulls.
What It Means For Red Bull
Red Bull’s immediate priority is to make sure Hadjar returns when he can physically be ready. Wrist injury is tough for an F1 driver because steering, braking and all the physical demands of racing put a lot of stress on hands and arms.
Not rushing Hadjar back also gives Lawson another chance to get some experience with the senior team. His performances in Madrid will be watched closely as Red Bull looks at its driver options and future line-up.
Verstappen, meanwhile, will once again have a new teammate for the Spanish GP. The Dutchman is still their championship contender and Lawson will be expected to do his bit wherever possible but also adapt quickly to the demands of the Red Bull operation.
Hadjar’s presence in Madrid should give some hope that his recovery is moving in the right direction but his return date still depends on fitness and medical progress.
For now Lawson has another big chance to show what he can do, Tsunoda returns to Racing Bulls and Hadjar will sit on the sidelines while he continues his recovery. The Spanish Grand Prix could then become another chapter in all three drivers’ careers.
