ZANDVOORT, Netherlands — Red Bull Racing is facing a dramatic driver shake-up ahead of the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix, with Isack Hadjar reportedly set to miss the Formula 1 race after suffering a wrist injury during training.
Multiple reports, including Reuters, Sky Sports and The Race, say the 21-year-old Frenchman is unlikely to be fit enough to compete at Zandvoort this weekend. Reports from Dutch media indicate the injury happened during a gym session over Formula 1’s summer break.
Red Bull, however, had not formally confirmed Hadjar’s injury or his withdrawal at the time of those reports, meaning his absence should still be treated as reported rather than officially confirmed.
If Hadjar is ruled out, the biggest twist could be waiting in the Red Bull garage.
Lawson poised for surprise Red Bull return
Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson is widely expected to step up to the senior Red Bull team and partner four-time world champion Max Verstappen at Zandvoort.
Lawson, 24, currently sits ninth in the 2026 drivers’ championship and has built a stronger campaign with Racing Bulls after his difficult first stint with the senior Red Bull team. Reuters and Sky Sports both report that he is the leading candidate to replace Hadjar if the Frenchman cannot race.
The potential promotion would be an extraordinary second chance for Lawson.
He was promoted to Red Bull for the opening races of the 2025 season but was sent back to Racing Bulls after only two grands prix, with Yuki Tsunoda taking his place alongside Verstappen.
Now, less than two years later, another injury-related situation could put Lawson back in the seat of a Red Bull car.
The Zandvoort coincidence is almost unbelievable
There is an intriguing piece of F1 history behind Lawson’s potential return.
Lawson made his Formula 1 debut at the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix, also at Zandvoort, after Daniel Ricciardo suffered a broken hand in a practice crash.
Three years later, another driver’s wrist injury could once again open the door for Lawson at the same circuit. The Race highlighted the remarkable coincidence, while Red Bull’s own historical material confirms Lawson’s 2023 debut came as Ricciardo’s replacement.
Tsunoda could also make an F1 comeback
The potential reshuffle would not stop with Lawson.
If Lawson moves into Red Bull’s second seat, Yuki Tsunoda is expected to step into Lawson’s Racing Bulls cockpit alongside rookie Arvid Lindblad.
Tsunoda previously raced for Red Bull after replacing Lawson in 2025 but lost the seat at the end of that season. He is currently serving as a reserve driver within the Red Bull setup.
That would create a remarkable chain reaction:
Hadjar’s injury → Lawson moves to Red Bull → Tsunoda returns to Racing Bulls.
Hadjar’s season interrupted at a crucial moment
Hadjar had been enjoying an encouraging first campaign with Red Bull after being promoted from Racing Bulls.
Sky Sports reports that he entered the Dutch Grand Prix weekend eighth in the drivers’ championship, while Reuters described him as a strong candidate for a future Red Bull seat alongside Verstappen.
A forced absence at Zandvoort would therefore come at an especially unfortunate time for the young Frenchman.
The good news is that the next race, the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, is scheduled for September 4–6, giving Hadjar roughly two weeks to recover if he does miss the Dutch GP.
The 2026 Dutch Grand Prix is scheduled for August 21–23 at Circuit Zandvoort and will feature a Sprint weekend, making the situation even more demanding for any substitute driver stepping into the car at short notice.
What happens next?
For now, the key issue is Hadjar’s fitness and whether he receives clearance to race.
The latest reporting strongly points toward Hadjar being sidelined, with Lawson the most likely replacement and Tsunoda potentially returning to Racing Bulls. But until Red Bull formally confirms the lineup, the reshuffle remains a developing story.
And that is what makes this story so intriguing: a wrist injury during the summer break could trigger one of the most unexpected driver changes of the 2026 F1 season—and it could give Liam Lawson another shot at proving himself alongside Verstappen.
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