RED BULL CONFIRMS LAWSON REPLACES INJURED HADJAR AT DUTCH GRAND PRIX

Red Bull Racing has confirmed that Liam Lawson will replace Isack Hadjar for this weekend's Dutch Grand Prix at Circuit Zandvoort after Hadjar sustained an injury during the summer break. According to BBC Sport sources close to the team, Hadjar broke his hand whilst boxing. Red Bull have not officially announced the change, though the team's guidance states Hadjar is "likely" to miss the race. Lawson, who normally races for Red Bull's second team Racing Bulls, will partner Max Verstappen for the event.

Hadjar's absence marks a significant development for Red Bull. The 21-year-old has been a strong performer this season, doubling the contribution of his replacement in half a season and lapping within two-tenths of Verstappen on average. The team expects Hadjar to return to racing within a couple of weeks. Lawson's temporary promotion comes after a difficult spell at Red Bull earlier in 2025, when he was demoted to Racing Bulls after two races following what one report described as lacklustre performances. Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull's reserve driver, will replace Lawson at Racing Bulls for the weekend.

The Dutch Grand Prix represents Verstappen's final race at his home circuit, as the event will be removed from the calendar after this season due to financial viability concerns for organisers. Red Bull have had a challenging 2026 campaign, with Verstappen yet to win a race. One report noted that Verstappen finished 2025 just two points behind world champion Lando Norris of McLaren, with his best results this year being second-place finishes in Austria and Hungary.