Isack Hadjar is reportedly set to miss the upcoming Dutch Grand Prix due to a wrist injury sustained during Formula 1’s summer break. The Red Bull Racing driver’s absence would necessitate a driver change for the twelfth round of the 2026 Formula One World Championship at Circuit Zandvoort.
Dutch publication De Telegraaf indicates Hadjar suffered the injury during a gym session. While a final decision from Red Bull Racing remains pending, reports suggest Hadjar’s sidelining is the most probable outcome for this weekend’s event.
Should Hadjar be unable to compete, Liam Lawson is expected to step into his seat at Red Bull Racing alongside Max Verstappen. This would mark a return to the senior team for Lawson, who currently races for Visa Cash App Racing Bulls.
Lawson was demoted from Red Bull Racing to Racing Bulls after just two races into the 2025 season. He had initially replaced Sergio Pérez at Red Bull Racing over the winter of 2024/2025.
His Formula 1 debut occurred at the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix, where he substituted for an injured Daniel Ricciardo. Lawson has since established himself, currently sitting ninth in the 2026 Drivers’ Championship with 43 points.
The potential shuffle would also provide Yuki Tsunoda with an unexpected opportunity. Tsunoda, who serves as the reserve driver for both Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls, would fill Lawson’s seat at Racing Bulls alongside Arvid Lindblad.
Tsunoda lost his Red Bull Racing drive to Hadjar at the conclusion of the 2025 season. He has since been linked with a potential move to IndyCar for the 2027 season, with discussions reportedly underway with Meyer Shank Racing.
Hadjar was promoted to Red Bull Racing for the 2026 season after an impressive rookie campaign in 2025 with Racing Bulls, which included a podium finish at Zandvoort. He is currently eighth in the 2026 Drivers’ Championship with 68 points.
His best result this season was a fourth-place finish at the Monaco Grand Prix. Hadjar had recently unveiled a special helmet design to commemorate his 2025 Zandvoort podium at this weekend’s event.
The 2026 Dutch Grand Prix, scheduled from August 21 to 23 at Circuit Zandvoort, will feature the first F1 Sprint on Dutch soil. This event is also set to be the final running of the Dutch Grand Prix under its current contract.
Practice 1 and Sprint Qualifying are scheduled for Friday, August 21, with the Sprint and Qualifying sessions on Saturday, August 22. The main Grand Prix race will take place on Sunday, August 23.
If Hadjar is sidelined for Zandvoort, he would have a two-week recovery period before the Italian Grand Prix. The Italian Grand Prix is scheduled for September 4-6, 2026, at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza.
