Isack Hadjar will miss the 2026 Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort after sustaining a wrist injury during the summer break. Oracle Red Bull Racing confirmed the news on Wednesday, announcing that Liam Lawson will replace him in the RB22 for the weekend.
“Isack has sustained a wrist injury that will prevent him from racing in Zandvoort,” the team wrote on X. “We will be welcoming back Liam Lawson, who will replace him in RB22. Speedy recovery, Isack!”
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The confirmation triggers a late driver reshuffle across the Red Bull family, with Yuki Tsunoda stepping out of his reserve role to fill Lawson’s seat at Racing Bulls alongside Arvid Lindblad for the weekend.
What Happened to Isack Hadjar?
Hadjar picked up the wrist injury during a gym session in the build-up to the Dutch Grand Prix. The timing is particularly unfortunate for the young Frenchman, who has a special connection with Zandvoort; he finished third here last season to claim the first podium of his F1 career.
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With 11 of 23 scheduled rounds complete, Hadjar sits eighth in the drivers’ standings and has been putting together a solid enough season to suggest he would be retained at Red Bull for 2027. If he recovers on schedule, he would have two weeks before the next race at Monza.
Liam Lawson Returns to Red Bull at the Same Track Where He Made His Debut
Lawson’s return to a Red Bull car comes after the New Zealander was dropped by the team just two races into the 2025 season, having been named as Sergio Perez’s replacement during the off-season. The circumstances of his return carry an almost eerie sense of familiarity. Lawson made his F1 debut at this same circuit in 2023 after Daniel Ricciardo broke his wrist, meaning Zandvoort has now handed him two of the biggest opportunities of his career, and both times a wrist injury was the reason.
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Lawson has enjoyed an impressive season for Racing Bulls, scoring points in all but three of the 11 races held so far to help the Faenza-based team to fifth in the constructors’ standings. A strong showing alongside Max Verstappen this weekend could only strengthen his case for a full-time Red Bull seat in the future.
Yuki Tsunoda Gets Another Chance
With Lawson’s Racing Bulls seat suddenly vacant, Yuki Tsunoda steps back into the grid after spending 2026 as a reserve driver for both Red Bull-backed teams. Tsunoda completed the 2025 campaign at Red Bull but failed to do enough to convince the team to retain him. A competitive weekend at Zandvoort gives the 26-year-old a chance to put himself firmly back in the shop window ahead of the 2027 driver market.
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The Dutch Grand Prix also carries added significance beyond the driver reshuffle; this is the final Zandvoort race under the current contract, with the circuit set to leave the F1 calendar after this season. With the championship fight tightening as the second half gets underway, it promises to be an emotional farewell to one of the sport’s most atmospheric venues.