Isack Hadjar is finally back in the Formula 1 cockpit. After missing three races due to a wrist injury sustained during the summer break, the Red Bull driver will return at this weekend's Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Interestingly, he's not coming empty-handed. Hadjar is bringing the special helmet design that was originally meant for the Dutch Grand Prix but was delayed by his injury.
The helmet is more than just an accessory. Its design is inspired by a viral moment from 2025, when Hadjar scored his first F1 podium with Racing Bulls at Zandvoort. During the team photo session after the race, he accidentally dropped and broke his Delft Blue trophy. The incident quickly became a talking point on social media, and now it's immortalized on his helmet: an illustration of the broken trophy with a cartoon of Hadjar's reaction.
Red Bull announced the helmet's arrival on social media. "Here's one we made earlier. Isack's lid from Zandvoort will make its on-track debut in Baku," the team posted. Meanwhile, Hadjar himself commented on the broken trophy in 2025. "I don't know what's going on, but I get a new one, I know that. But I want my broken one. Where is the broken one? That's the question," he told Sky Sports. "Because the new one, we don't care about the new one, because it's not been part of the grand prix history. I want the broken one because it's part of my podium journey. The new one doesn't smell [of] alcohol, like the champagne and whatever."
Hadjar's return also comes with contract news. The Milton Keynes-based team has announced a contract extension keeping him with the team through 2027. The 21-year-old joined Red Bull at the start of 2026, replacing Yuki Tsunoda, and has impressed alongside four-time champion Max Verstappen. Currently, Hadjar sits eighth in the drivers' standings with 71 points, while Verstappen is sixth with 145 points.
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix will take place at the Baku City Circuit from 24-26 September. For Hadjar, this race is a tough test after a long absence. He must quickly adapt to the challenging characteristics of the street circuit, especially since he has never driven a Red Bull car here. However, with the confidence from his first podium and the team's support, he is ready to prove that injury is no barrier.
From a technical standpoint, the Baku circuit demands a balance between top speed on the long straights and traction in the slow corners. Red Bull is expected to bring a special aerodynamic package to optimize performance on the street track. Hadjar, known for his aggressive yet measured driving style, is expected to maximize the car's potential. His return is also a breath of fresh air for a team competing fiercely in the constructors' championship.
For the fans, this moment feels special. The delayed helmet symbolizes Hadjar's journey from a rookie who dropped a trophy to a driver who is now highly regarded. As he crosses the start line in Baku, that helmet will serve as a reminder that sometimes the unexpected becomes an inseparable part of a driver's story.
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