Isack Hadjar has been ruled out of this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix at Monza, with Red Bull confirming the 21-year-old Frenchman’s wrist injury will keep him sidelined for a second successive race.
Liam Lawson will once again step into the RB22 alongside Max Verstappen, having initially been called up as a late replacement before the Dutch Grand Prix when Hadjar hurt his wrist during a training incident over the summer break.
Despite initial suggestions at Zandvoort that the injury was minor, the team announced on Wednesday that Hadjar remains unfit to compete.
Red Bull stated that “Isack continues to make encouraging progress following the wrist injury sustained during the summer break,” adding that “the team is closely monitoring his rehabilitation and will take no unnecessary risks with his return to competition.”
Lawson delivered a strong showing at Zandvoort in Hadjar’s absence, qualifying eighth before crossing the line in seventh to collect six points for the team. The result underlined the New Zealander’s readiness to slot into the senior outfit at short notice.
Yuki Tsunoda, meanwhile, will again fill Lawson’s vacated seat at Racing Bulls for the Monza weekend. The Japanese driver stepped in at Zandvoort and produced a solid performance on his return to the grid, finishing 11th alongside teammate Arvid Lindblad — narrowly missing out on points.
Tsunoda’s future in the sport remains uncertain, but another grand prix outing offers him a fresh chance to make his case. Hadjar was spotted in the Zandvoort paddock wearing a protective sleeve on his forearm.
Verstappen himself will not participate in Friday’s opening free practice session at Monza, with reserve driver Ayumu Iwasa taking the wheel of his RB22. The 24-year-old Japanese driver’s outing forms part of Red Bull’s efforts to fulfil mandatory rookie running requirements for the 2026 campaign.
It will mark Iwasa’s third FP1 appearance this season, having previously driven Verstappen’s car at the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona — where he completed 21 laps and finished 14th — and the Racing Bulls VCARB 03 at the Austrian Grand Prix, where he managed 19 laps.
Max Verstappen will not participate in Friday’s opening free practice session at Monza
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Iwasa has been a familiar presence in Friday practice sessions since his debut outing at the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix, accumulating five FP1 appearances across the 2024 and 2025 seasons before the current campaign began.
Verstappen, who suffered a first-lap retirement at his home race in Zandvoort, acknowledged the frustration but reflected warmly on the occasion. “Not being able to finish the race in Zandvoort was disappointing, but it was still really special to see the fans at the circuit one last time and thank them for all the memories,” he said.
Looking ahead to Monza, the Dutchman — who signed a fresh four-year deal with Red Bull last month — struck a cautious tone. “It is difficult to predict how competitive we will be there. There are a few things we need to work on to be a bit closer to the pace and to make sure balance of the car is right,” he added.
Verstappen currently sits sixth in the drivers’ championship, with Hadjar eighth and Lawson ninth.
Lawson expressed his eagerness to build on the foundation laid at Zandvoort. “It’s good to hear Isack is recovering well and is back in the car soon, but it’s great to have another weekend with the Team,” he said.
The 24-year-old highlighted the value of his Dutch Grand Prix experience. “Zandvoort gave me a really useful first reference in the car, and having a full Sprint weekend behind me means I’m coming into Monza with a much better understanding of the car and what I need from it,” he explained.
He acknowledged the contrasting demands of the two circuits. “It’s a completely different track, and there’ll be new challenges, but I’m looking forward to building on the last weekend with the Team and seeing what we can do.”
