ed Bull Issue Isack Hadjar Injury Update Ahead of Italian GP

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Red Bull have shared an update on the health of Isack Hadjar, amid the wrist injury that kept him out of last month's Dutch Grand Prix.

The 21-year-old picked up the freak injury during a routine boxing training session during the sport's annual mid-season break. He recently admitted that he had wanted to push through the pain and continue to drive, but was ultimately persuaded to rest.

The French-Algerian's ongoing problems have forced the constructor's hand for this weekend's Italian Grand Prix at Monza, where they will once again turn to Liam Lawson, who gave a solid account of himself at Zandvoort, when he finished P7 in Zandvoort, to put himself in the points.

Currently sitting 9th in the 2026 Drivers' Championship, the New Zealander has used being demoted from Red Bull to Racing Bulls last season as fuel to prove he is fully deserving of his place in the paddock as he fills in for Hadjar.

Naturally, the 24-year-old's short-term promotion will leave a gap on the grid, which will once again be filled by the popular driver Yuki Tsunoda. The Japanese driver has had a turbulent time in F1, being dropped from RBR's starting lineup after struggling to match the pace of Max Verstappen in 2025.

Those involved in the decision-making process at Red Bull left it late to break the news, opting to hold off on Hadjar's return until at least the Spanish Grand Prix at the IFEMA Exhibition Centre in Madrid next weekend, with a return at this point deemed too risky.

His omission from a second race was confirmed by the team in a statement, which read:

"Liam Lawson will drive alongside Max Verstappen at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, while Isack continues to make encouraging progress following the wrist injury sustained during the summer break.

"The team is closely monitoring his rehabilitation and will take no unnecessary risks with his return to competition and wishes him a speedy recovery."

After his performance at the Dutch Grand Prix, Lawson is just 19 points behind Hadjar in the Drivers' Championship. Should the Kiwi continue to deputise in Red Bull's second car, it is possible that he will overtake the talented youngster.

Per reports, Red Bull still see Hadjar as the man they want to partner Verstappen long-term, but the longer he sits on the sidelines, the more opportunity Lawson will have to put pressure on his position, starting at Monza this weekend.