Isack Hadjar will not participate in the Dutch Grand Prix this weekend after injuring his hand during the summer break. Red Bull driver will be replaced by New Zealander Liam Lawson, who normally races for Racing Bulls, Red Bull's second team.
Lawson's withdrawal will be covered by Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull's reserve driver, who was relegated from the main team at the end of last season. Red Bull has not yet officially announced any of these moves, with its official guidance being only that Hadjar is "likely" to miss the race.
However, the situation has been confirmed to BBC Sport by a source close to the team. Red Bull has not yet revealed details about Hadjar's injury, but it is understood that he broke his hand while practising boxing. Lawson's promotion, though temporary, represents an opportunity for him to atone for his two disappointing races with Red Bull at the start of the 2025 season.
Lawson had been designated to race alongside Max Verstappen throughout last year, but was demoted to Racing Bulls after the first two grands prix following two mediocre performances. Red Bull has had a difficult first half in 2026, with four-time world champion Verstappen still without a victory.
The Dutchman ended 2025 just two points behind world champion Lando Norris of McLaren after an impressive resurgence in the second half of the season in which he made up more than 100 points in the championship fight. Verstappen's best results so far this year are second places at the Austrian and Hungarian Grands Prix. Verstappen races at his home grand prix for the last time this weekend; the event in the coastal town of Zandvoort will disappear from the calendar after this season because the organisers can no longer make it financially viable.
