Pierre Gasly has publicly addressed the severe online abuse directed at him and his family following the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid. The Alpine driver stated that the extent of the threats and attacks received on social media was ‘completely inappropriate’.
The backlash stemmed from Alpine’s strategic decisions during the Madrid race, which saw Gasly left on hard tyres for 55 laps. This gamble, relying on a late Safety Car that never materialised, forced a costly green-flag pit stop and resulted in a 12th-place finish for Gasly.
Gasly emphasised that while criticism is part of being a top athlete, a ‘certain line should not be crossed’ when individuals are behind a screen. He highlighted that the abuse extended to his girlfriend and family, prompting his call for a healthier environment within the sport’s social media landscape.
Meanwhile, Isack Hadjar returns to the Red Bull Racing car for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix this weekend. The 21-year-old Frenchman missed the previous three races in the Netherlands, Monza, and Madrid due to a wrist injury sustained during the F1 summer break.
Hadjar suffered a small fracture on the outside of his wrist, which did not require surgery. He has undergone a rehabilitation process and, following successful simulator tests, has been cleared to drive, though he anticipates some lingering pain. His contract extension with Red Bull for 2027 was also confirmed on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.
Liam Lawson, who deputised for Hadjar at Red Bull for the past three rounds, will revert to his full-time seat with Racing Bulls for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Lawson scored points in two of his three substitute appearances for Red Bull, securing a seventh-place finish at Zandvoort and sixth in Madrid. He is partnered with Arvid Lindblad at Racing Bulls for the 2026 season.
Esteban Ocon, currently driving for Haas, faces an uncertain future beyond the 2026 season. He has declared himself a ‘free agent’ for 2027, indicating that his current multi-year agreement with Haas does not include a binding commitment for an extension.
Haas is reportedly evaluating several candidates to replace Ocon for 2027, with Ferrari protege Rafael Camara considered a frontrunner to partner Oliver Bearman. Ocon joined Haas in 2025 after a five-season stint with Alpine.
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend, running from Thursday, September 24, to Saturday, September 26, is expected to be warm and dry. Temperatures are forecast to peak at 28°C on Thursday, with track temperatures reaching up to 49°C.
However, strong winds are anticipated to be a significant factor throughout the event. Gusts could reach up to 57.6 km/h on Thursday, intensifying to 64.8 km/h during Friday’s qualifying sessions, before easing slightly to 43.2 km/h on race day Saturday. The race itself is scheduled for Saturday to avoid a clash with Azerbaijan’s Remembrance Day on Sunday, September 27.
