Red Bull Racing will remain without the services of Isack Hadjar for the upcoming Spanish Grand Prix. The 21-year-old French driver is still sidelined as he heals from a wrist injury. This weekend's race in Madrid marks the third straight grand prix Hadjar has been forced to miss.
Hadjar suffered the injury during a boxing session over the summer break. He previously sat out both the Dutch Grand Prix and the Italian Grand Prix. Team officials released a statement noting that while his rehabilitation is moving forward constructively, he has not yet reached the physical benchmark required to drive an Formula 1 car competitively.
With Hadjar out of the lineup, Liam Lawson will step into the senior Red Bull car for the third consecutive race weekend. The New Zealander, who usually drives for the junior Racing Bulls squad, will partner alongside reigning world champion Max Verstappen.
Lawson's temporary promotion leaves a vacancy at Racing Bulls, which will once again be filled by reserve driver Yuki Tsunoda. Tsunoda has been stepping up to handle the Racing Bulls machinery while the team shuffles its driver lineup to manage Hadjar's absence.
Red Bull currently sits fourth in the Formula 1 constructors' championship standings. The team trails rival outfits Mercedes, Ferrari, and McLaren as the season heads toward its final stretch. Securing solid points with Lawson alongside Verstappen remains a key priority for the squad as they defend their position in the standings.
Formula 1 teams face a demanding physical calendar, making hand and wrist injuries particularly challenging for drivers due to the extreme G-forces and steering loads involved. Red Bull has not yet provided a definitive timeline for Hadjar's return to the cockpit, though the team continues to monitor his progress ahead of the subsequent rounds.
Reporting based on coverage first published by BBC Sport. Read the original report at BBC Sport.
