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Isack Hadjar is set to return to Red Bull for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after missing three races with a wrist injury.
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Liam Lawson will move back to Racing Bulls, while Yuki Tsunoda is expected to return to his reserve-driver role.
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Hadjar’s comeback follows a recovery process that included rehabilitation and simulator evaluations, with Red Bull prioritising his fitness.
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The Azerbaijan Grand Prix begins a triple-header and will feature a Saturday race due to Azerbaijan Remembrance Day.
September 22, (THEWILL) – Isack Hadjar is set to return to the Red Bull driver lineup for this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix after recovering from the wrist injury that kept him out of the last three Formula 1 races.
Hadjar’s comeback follows a recovery process that included rehabilitation and simulator evaluations, with Red Bull prioritising his fitness.
The 21-year-old Frenchman will rejoin Max Verstappen at the Baku City Circuit, bringing an end to his spell on the sidelines following his injury during the summer break. Hadjar missed the Grands Prix in the Netherlands, Italy and Spain, with Liam Lawson stepping into his seat at Red Bull.
Red Bull’s decision to bring Hadjar back follows a cautious recovery process. Team principal Laurent Mekies previously stressed that the driver would only return once he was sufficiently fit, with simulator testing and medical assessments forming part of the evaluation.
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Lawson Returns to Racing Bulls
Hadjar’s comeback will trigger another change across Red Bull’s driver lineup. Lawson, who replaced him during the three-race absence, will return to Racing Bulls alongside rookie Arvid Lindblad.
The New Zealander produced solid performances during his temporary promotion, scoring points in two of his three races for Red Bull. The team thanked Lawson for his adaptability and contribution while Hadjar recovered.
With Lawson moving back, Yuki Tsunoda will lose his temporary Racing Bulls race seat and return to his reserve-driver duties. Tsunoda had stepped in to partner Lindblad after Lawson was promoted to the senior Red Bull team.
Hadjar had been enjoying a promising campaign before his injury, including a run of strong results and a podium finish at the Monaco Grand Prix. His return will give him an opportunity to resume his progress alongside Verstappen and demonstrate that he has fully recovered from the wrist problem.
Azerbaijan Grand Prix Schedule
Hadjar’s return comes during a demanding period of the Formula 1 calendar. The Azerbaijan Grand Prix will begin a triple-header, with races in Malaysia and Singapore scheduled to follow.
The Baku weekend will operate on an unusual schedule, with practice beginning on Thursday and the race taking place on Saturday rather than Sunday. The adjustment has been made to avoid a clash with Azerbaijan Remembrance Day.
Red Bull will hope that Hadjar can quickly regain his rhythm on the challenging Baku street circuit, while Lawson returns to Racing Bulls and Tsunoda prepares to step away from the race seat.
Olumide Atiba is a sports journalist with THEWILL, known for his keen news sense and compelling storytelling. He has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, well-structured reports that resonate with readers, with a strong focus on football coverage
