Red Bull Calls Up Lawson to Replace Injured Hadjar at Zandvoort

Red Bull has officially confirmed that Liam Lawson will replace Isack Hadjar for this weekend's Dutch Grand Prix. The decision comes after Hadjar sustained a wrist injury during the Formula 1 summer break, ruling him out of the Zandvoort round.

Both Red Bull and Racing Bulls announced the driver reshuffle via brief statements on Wednesday. Yuki Tsunoda, who had been serving as a reserve driver, will return to the sister team to fill Lawson's vacant seat alongside Arvid Lindblad.

In its statement, Red Bull explained that Hadjar's injury occurred during the summer shutdown but provided no further details on the cause or severity. "Oracle Red Bull Racing driver, Isack Hadjar, has sustained a wrist injury during summer shutdown that will prevent him from racing at the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix," the team said. "We will be welcoming back Liam Lawson who will replace him in RB22 this weekend. The Team wishes Isack a speedy recovery and thanks Liam for stepping in on short notice."

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Racing Bulls also confirmed the change, with Tsunoda set to race at Zandvoort. "Visa Cash App Racing Bulls can confirm that Liam Lawson will race for Oracle Red Bull Racing at the Dutch Grand Prix this weekend due to Isack Hadjar's wrist injury," the statement read. "As a result of the driver change, Reserve Driver Yuki Tsunoda will race for Racing Bulls in Zandvoort this weekend, alongside Arvid Lindblad. We thank both Liam and Yuki for their adaptability as the teams prepare for the weekend and we wish Isack a speedy recovery."

Lawson's return marks another dramatic twist in his Red Bull career, less than 18 months after he was dropped from the senior team following just two races. The New Zealander earned promotion to Red Bull ahead of the 2025 season but difficult outings in the opening two rounds saw him sent back to Racing Bulls, with Tsunoda promoted in his place.

Zandvoort also holds particular significance for Lawson, as it was the scene of his grand prix debut in 2023. On that occasion, he was called up to replace Daniel Ricciardo, who withdrew with a wrist injury after a practice crash, and Lawson impressed over five races, strengthening his case for a permanent seat.

The recall comes during a strong season for Lawson, who currently sits ninth in the drivers' championship. Meanwhile, Hadjar will focus on recovery, with hopes of returning for the next race.