Isack Hadjar is set to reclaim his seat at Red Bull Racing for this week’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, marking the end of a frustrating three-race hiatus necessitated by a fractured wrist. The 21-year-old Frenchman, who has been sidelined since the Formula 1 summer break, has officially received medical clearance to compete on the high-speed, unforgiving streets of Baku.
Hadjar’s return comes after the driver successfully navigated a rigorous recovery process, culminating in a series of simulator evaluations at the team’s Milton Keynes headquarters. Those sessions, which tested his ability to handle the extreme steering and braking loads required by a modern F1 car, confirmed that the injury has healed sufficiently for him to compete without pain or restricted mobility. FIA medical checks have subsequently ratified his fitness, allowing him to rejoin championship leader Max Verstappen in the senior Red Bull garage.
The injury, sustained during a training session just as the second half of the season commenced, forced Hadjar to miss pivotal rounds in Zandvoort, Monza, and Madrid. During his absence, the team exercised extreme caution, prioritizing his long-term health over immediate track time. Red Bull Team Principal Laurent Mekies had remained steadfast in his stance that Hadjar would only return once he reached full fitness, refusing to compromise the young driver’s career by rushing his recovery.
In his absence, Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson stepped up to the plate. Lawson proved to be a reliable pair of hands, securing valuable points for the team, highlighted by a standout sixth-place finish in Madrid. Following the confirmation of Hadjar’s return, Lawson will now rotate back into his primary role at Racing Bulls, where he will partner with rookie Arvid Lindblad for the remainder of the season.
Hadjar’s return is timely, as the team enters a critical phase of the championship. Before his injury, the Frenchman had enjoyed a breakout season, headlined by a podium finish at the Monaco Grand Prix and a tally of 71 points that currently places him eighth in the Drivers’ Championship. Red Bull will be looking to him to maintain that momentum immediately, as the team battles to defend its position in the Constructors’ standings during a grueling upcoming stretch of flyaway races.
The challenge awaiting him in Baku is significant; the circuit is renowned for its narrow sections and abrasive braking zones, which will provide a brutal “stress test” for his recently repaired wrist. However, with the European leg of the season now behind them, both the driver and the team are eager to move past the setback. With track action in Azerbaijan commencing earlier than usual—beginning with practice sessions on Thursday ahead of a Saturday Grand Prix—Hadjar will have little time to ease back into the rhythm, but he is officially ready to resume his campaign.
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