Red Bull has pressed pause on Isack Hadjar’s Formula 1 return, keeping the Frenchman out of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza and giving Liam Lawson another full race weekend in the RB22.
Hadjar, who fractured his wrist and missed the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, is refusing to rush back. The 19-year-old has even turned to MotoGP great Marc Marquez for guidance, mindful of how the Spaniard’s 2020 comeback from an arm break spiralled into a long-term setback. The message is clear: one race is not worth a career.
Red Bull echoed that stance, stressing it is “closely monitoring” Hadjar’s rehabilitation. The team described his progress as “encouraging” but underlined it “will take no unnecessary risks with his return”. In a season already defined by relentless schedules and fine margins, this is a rare, deliberate slowdown.
For Lawson, it opens the door again.
The New Zealander impressed on his first outing in the RB22 at Zandvoort, soaking up a chaotic weekend to finish seventh in the grand prix. Competitive, composed, and quick enough to turn a stand‑in role into something more serious.
“It’s good to hear Isack is recovering well and is back in the car soon, but it’s great to have another weekend with the team,” Lawson said. “Zandvoort gave me a really useful first reference in the car, and having a full sprint weekend behind me means I’m coming into Monza with a much better understanding of the car and what I need from it.”
Monza will give him the full run again: all three practice sessions, qualifying, and the race. No split duties, no half measures. A second, cleaner data set for Red Bull to judge him by, this time on the fastest circuit of the year.
There is another twist to the weekend plan. Max Verstappen will step out of his RB22 in first practice, with Ayumu Iwasa taking over as Red Bull continues to meet its obligation to field rookies in four FP1 sessions across the season. For Iwasa, it is a rare and valuable hour in championship‑winning machinery; for the team, another rookie box ticked.
The shuffle continues down the paddock. As at Zandvoort, Yuki Tsunoda will vacate his usual Racing Bulls seat so Lawson can stay in the senior operation’s car, maintaining continuity after his strong debut.
Hadjar waits, Lawson stays in the shop window, and Iwasa gets his first taste at Monza. For a team that usually deals in certainties, Red Bull’s future driver pecking order suddenly feels wide open.
