Isack Hadjar is finally back in the Red Bull cockpit for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after missing three races due to injury. The Frenchman's return immediately reshuffles the lineup at Red Bull and Racing Bulls, closing a temporary chapter in the careers of Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda at the senior team. But behind the scenes, immense pressure awaits Hadjar: he must hit the ground running, as Red Bull has no time to wait.
Hadjar and Rising Expectations
During his three-race absence, Lawson did more than just fill in. With no prior knowledge of the car and bouncing between teams mid-season, he still scored points to keep Red Bull's tally ticking. That means Hadjar cannot simply return to his pre-injury form. He is expected to be at or very close to his best, otherwise Red Bull would be making the wrong call for its competitive prospects. The upcoming triple-header will also test his fitness, concentration, and how quickly he gets back up to speed.
Before his injury, Hadjar's performances were promising. In the first 11 races, he averaged 6.5 points per race, while Verstappen averaged 9.9. In other words, if Verstappen finished fifth, Hadjar would typically be one or two places behind. However, the bar has now been raised. During his three-race absence, Verstappen's average jumped to 12 points per race, thanks to podiums at Monza and the Madring, despite his crash at Zandvoort. Lawson managed only 4.7 points per race. Verstappen has shown Red Bull's peak is rising, and Hadjar must rise with it.
Lawson Proves His Worth
Liam Lawson already had a secure position at Racing Bulls before the summer break. His consistency in the first half left him leading the points standings outside the top four teams. There was talk of Nikola Tsolov arriving from Formula 2, but those closest to Lawson spoke of a step change in approach and performance over the winter. His engineering team particularly liked how, despite his dislike of the 2026 regulations, he knuckled down to unleash energy management tricks that pushed the team forward. The indications were that Racing Bulls intended to keep him alongside Arvid Lindblad for another year.
The unexpected opportunity at Red Bull gave Lawson a chance to banish doubts. Although only for three races, he showed he could do the job well. Now, he returns to Racing Bulls with a slightly enhanced reputation, but also with the knowledge that a seat at the senior team could still be up for grabs in the future.
Tsunoda and His New Reserve Role
Meanwhile, Yuki Tsunoda is back in his reserve driver role after his F1 2026 cameo. That opportunity may not have gone as hoped, but Tsunoda remains part of the Red Bull ecosystem. His position as a reserve driver gives the team flexibility, but also raises questions about his future. Will he return to a full-time seat, or will he be pushed out of Red Bull's driver pool? The last three races have not provided a definitive answer.
On the other hand, Max Verstappen continues to demonstrate his class as the lead driver. His high points average sets the benchmark for his teammates. With Hadjar's return, Red Bull hopes to challenge the main rivals in the remainder of the 2026 season. Internal competition is intensifying, and every driver must prove themselves.
Hadjar's return is not just about one seat. It is about the team's direction and how they manage talent under pressure. The next three races will be the real test, not only for Hadjar but for the entire Red Bull driver structure.
Baca Juga
Isack Hadjar kembali ke Red Bull untuk GP Azerbaijan setelah cedera. Simak analisis lengkap peta kekuatan lima driver Red Bull di F1 2026, termasuk Lawson dan Tsunoda.
Lando Norris mengungkap karakter unik mobil McLaren di era F1 2026, termasuk tantangan adaptasi dan manajemen ban yang berbeda.
Red Bull konfirmasi Isack Hadjar kembali untuk F1 Azerbaijan GP setelah pulih dari cedera. Liam Lawson kembali ke Racing Bulls, Yuki Tsunoda menepi.
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