Hadjar's Baku return in doubt as Red Bull insists wrist recovery remains on track

Isack Hadjar’s return to the Red Bull cockpit for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix remains uncertain, with team principal Laurent Mekies saying a final call on the Frenchman’s fitness will not come until the week of the Baku race.

Hadjar injured his wrist in training during the summer break and has missed the last three Formula 1 grands prix as a result. Liam Lawson has stepped into the Red Bull seat in his absence, while reserve driver Yuki Tsunoda has covered for Lawson at Racing Bulls.

Speaking after Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid, Mekies was measured but reassuring about Hadjar’s progress. “There is nothing wrong with Isack’s recovery,” he said. “I think we have learned that it’s fundamentally a normal time for the sort of injuries he has, so we will continue with the same approach.”

Mekies outlined a clear protocol before any return is sanctioned. “We will evaluate the situation in a week’s time — to see how he feels, and then to put him on the simulator, to expose him to real-life constraints. If he feels close to 100%, we go for it; if he feels the recovery is not completed, we will stick to our approach of putting his recovery first. What we don’t want to do is, by having an early return, compromise his long-term capacity to come back to 100%.”

Hadjar’s caution is partly informed by a conversation with seven-time MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez, who famously attempted to race at the 2020 Jerez season opener after breaking his humerus, only to aggravate the injury and miss the rest of that season.

The uncertainty creates a logistical headache for Lawson, who must prepare for Baku with both Red Bull and Racing Bulls until a decision is confirmed. “I think this week off won’t be much of a week off,” the New Zealander admitted. “Probably all the way up to Wednesday or Thursday for Baku will be when that’s decided, and that’s quite tricky to mentally prepare for — what car I’m going to drive.”

Lawson has acquitted himself well during the stand-in spell, scoring 14 points across his three races at Red Bull to sit ninth in the drivers’ standings. He acknowledged the challenge of switching between two very different cars. “Coming to the end of the Madrid weekend, I feel quite comfortable in this car. But going back now will be quite tough — it’s completely different to drive.”

Red Bull will assess Hadjar’s condition further before making a final decision ahead of the Baku street circuit.