Update
Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar to miss Dutch Grand Prix with wrist injury as Liam Lawson confirmed as replacement
Red Bull confirm Isack Hadjar to miss the Dutch GP with wrist injury; Liam Lawson to step up from Racing Bulls to partner Max Verstappen; reserve driver Yuki Tsunoda replaces Lawson for weekend; watch the Dutch Grand Prix Sprint weekend live on Sky Sports F1 from Friday
Wednesday 19 August 2026 20:19, UK
Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar will be replaced by Liam Lawson at this weekend's Dutch Grand Prix after being ruled out of the event by a wrist injury suffered while boxing in training.
Following reports on Wednesday morning that Hadjar's participation was in major doubt, Red Bull confirmed his absence for the first race after the sport's summer break and announced that Lawson will step up from junior team Racing Bulls to drive alongside Max Verstappen in Zandvoort.
Yuki Tsunoda, who serves as a reserve driver for both teams, will replace Lawson for Racing Bulls and drive alongside British rookie Arvid Lindblad at the Sprint weekend.
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A Red Bull statement said: "Oracle Red Bull Racing driver Isack Hadjar has sustained a wrist injury during the summer shutdown that will prevent him from racing at the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix.
"We will be welcoming back Liam Lawson who will replace him in the RB22 this weekend.
"The team wishes Isack a speedy recovery and thanks Liam for stepping in on short notice."
Sky Sports News understands the injury is a fracture in Hadjar's wrist that was sustained doing boxing drills that involved punching a sand bag as part of his training regiment during the summer break. The Frenchman is understood to have regularly used boxing as part of his training.
Hadjar will have two further weeks to recover ahead of the next race, the Italian Grand Prix at Monza from September 4-6.
The 21-year-old has so far delivered a relatively strong first campaign for Red Bull after being promoted to the team following an impressive rookie season with Racing Bulls, and is expected to remain as Verstappen's team-mate next year.
With 11 of 23 scheduled rounds complete, Hadjar is eighth in the drivers' standings, 41 points back from Verstappen in sixth, with the pair both having struggled to get strong results out of Red Bull's troublesome car.
Lawson's return to Red Bull comes after the New Zealander was brutally dropped by the team just two races into the 2025 season, having been named as Sergio Perez's replacement during the off-season.
Lawson was swapped with Tsunoda, who spent the rest of 2025 as Verstappen's team-mate, but the Japanese driver failed to do enough to convince the team to keep him beyond the end of the season.
A Racing Bulls statement said: "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.
"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."
A drive in Zandvoort could give the 26-year-old Tsunoda the opportunity to put himself in the shop window as he seeks a full-time return to the grid in 2027.
The Formula 1 season resumes after the summer break with a Sprint weekend at the Dutch Grand Prix from Friday, with every session live on Sky Sports. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime
