The return of Formula 1 after the summer break will feature an unexpected change to the grid. Isack Hadjar will miss the Dutch Grand Prix, which takes place this weekend in Zandvoort, after suffering a wrist injury during the championship break.
To fill the Frenchman’s seat at Red Bull Racing, Liam Lawson will be temporarily promoted from Racing Bulls. As a result, Yuki Tsunoda, currently Red Bull’s reserve driver, will return to the Racing Bulls cockpit for the round alongside Arvid Lindblad.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Red Bull confirmed Hadjar’s absence and the driver change for the weekend.
“Red Bull Racing driver Isack Hadjar suffered a wrist injury during the summer break, which will prevent him from competing in the 2026 Dutch GP. We welcome Liam Lawson back, who will replace him in the RB22 this weekend. The team wishes Isack a speedy recovery and thanks Liam for stepping in at such short notice,” the team said.
The decision marks Lawson’s return to Red Bull just over a year after his departure from the team. The New Zealander is already familiar with the Austrian outfit and will once again have Max Verstappen as his teammate, in a situation that echoes the beginning of his Formula 1 career.
Hadjar ruled out of Dutch GP
Before securing a full time seat in the championship, Lawson had already stepped in as a substitute driver on several occasions.
His Formula 1 debut came at the 2023 Dutch GP, when he was called up by AlphaTauri to replace Daniel Ricciardo. The Australian had suffered a wrist fracture following a crash during practice at Zandvoort.
Lawson contested five races that season and returned to the grid in 2024, when he once again replaced Ricciardo at Racing Bulls following the Australian’s early departure from the team. He competed in six rounds that season, with three ninth place finishes as his best results.
His performances led Red Bull to back the New Zealander for the 2025 season, promoting him to the senior team to fill the seat vacated by Sergio Pérez.
However, Lawson’s time at Red Bull lasted only two races. After failing to score points in the opening rounds of the season, he was replaced by Yuki Tsunoda, who took over his seat at the team.
Tsunoda returns to Racing Bulls
With Lawson’s temporary promotion, Racing Bulls had to reorganize its lineup for the Dutch GP. The team confirmed that Yuki Tsunoda will replace Lawson in Zandvoort, returning to the cockpit of the team he previously raced for.
“Racing Bulls confirms that Liam will drive for Red Bull Racing at the Dutch GP this weekend due to Isack Hadjar’s wrist injury. As a result of the driver change, reserve driver Yuki Tsunoda will drive for Racing Bulls in Zandvoort this weekend alongside Arvid Lindblad. We thank Liam and Yuki for their adaptability as both teams prepare for the weekend and wish Isack a speedy recovery,” Racing Bulls said.
The move creates an unusual situation within the Red Bull structure, with Lawson returning to the senior team while Tsunoda temporarily moves back to Racing Bulls, where he competed for four seasons before being promoted.
For Hadjar, the priority now will be recovering from his wrist injury. The Frenchman, who holds one of Red Bull’s race seats in 2026, will be a notable absence as Formula 1 returns from its summer break.
For Lawson, meanwhile, the Dutch GP represents another opportunity to prove his potential in a Red Bull car and, fittingly, at the very circuit where his Formula 1 journey began.
The driver change also highlights the flexibility of Red Bull’s driver programme, with both teams once again relying on familiar faces within their structure. Hadjar’s absence means Lawson will have another opportunity to gain experience with the senior team, while Tsunoda returns to Racing Bulls alongside Lindblad. The Dutch Grand Prix will therefore be an important weekend for both drivers, particularly for Lawson, who will be back in a Red Bull only a year after losing his seat. For Hadjar, the focus will remain on his recovery and returning to the cockpit as soon as he is cleared to compete.
