Red Bull Racing has confirmed Liam Lawson will partner Max Verstappen at the upcoming Italian Grand Prix at Monza. This decision comes as Isack Hadjar continues his recovery from a wrist injury. The Italian Grand Prix is scheduled to take place from September 4-6, 2026, at the Monza Circuit.
Hadjar sustained a wrist fracture during a boxing session over the Formula 1 summer break. This injury forced him to miss the preceding Dutch Grand Prix, held from August 21-23.
Red Bull has adopted a conservative approach to Hadjar’s rehabilitation. The team aims to prevent any premature return that could jeopardise his long-term health and full recovery.
Lawson previously deputised for Hadjar at the Dutch Grand Prix. He delivered a notable performance, securing a seventh-place finish and scoring six championship points for the team.
The Italian Grand Prix marks the 13th round of the 2026 Formula One World Championship. Practice sessions are set to commence on September 4, with qualifying on September 5, and the main race on September 6.
Concurrently, Yuki Tsunoda will continue to fill Lawson’s seat at the sister team, Racing Bulls. He will race alongside Arvid Lindblad, maintaining the driver line-up seen at the Dutch Grand Prix.
Isack Hadjar was promoted to Red Bull for the current 2026 season. His contract is confirmed for this year, with the team reportedly planning an extension.
Max Verstappen, the four-time world champion, recently extended his contract with Red Bull. His new agreement, announced on August 20, 2026, secures his position with the team until the end of the 2030 season.
Verstappen’s previous contract was set to conclude at the end of the 2028 season. The extension followed speculation regarding his future amidst new regulations.
Helmut Marko, former Red Bull adviser, stated that Verstappen’s contract extension brings stability to the team. He highlighted Verstappen as a crucial factor for attracting ambitious engineers.
Max is the face of the whole team, a leading figure. Every ambitious engineer wants to work with the best driver.
The Monza Circuit, known as ‘La Pista Magica’, is one of Formula 1’s most iconic venues. It is characterised by high speeds, with cars on full throttle for approximately 80% of a lap.
