Verstappen may have to wait even longer for Hadjar's return

Hadjar is absent this weekend for the third Grand Prix in a row. The Red Bull driver sustained a wrist injury during the summer break, which forced him to miss the Dutch Grand Prix. He was also unable to get in the car at Monza. Liam Lawson took his place alongside Max Verstappen, while Yuki Tsunoda returned to Formula 1 with Racing Bulls.

The same lineup remains in place this weekend at the Madring. Hadjar has traveled to Madrid and is present with the team, but he was still seen at the circuit wearing a brace on his injured wrist. A return behind the wheel is off the table for this weekend in any case.

Attention therefore naturally shifts to the next Grand Prix, which will be held in Baku. However, that does not automatically mean that Red Bull has designated that race as the moment for Hadjar to line up alongside Verstappen again. This site has learned that, at this time, it cannot be confirmed that the Azerbaijan Grand Prix is the target for his comeback.

Red Bull is thus opting for the same approach it has taken in recent weeks. The Austrian F1 team wants Hadjar to make a full recovery and has no intention of rushing his return just to make a specific race. As the race weekend in Baku draws nearer, his situation will be reassessed.

Laurent Mekies already made it clear in Monza that Red Bull will only put Hadjar back in the car once he is fully fit. The team wants to prevent the Frenchman from returning too soon and jeopardizing his recovery. That stance has not changed heading into the Azerbaijan GP.

For Lawson, the uncertainty means his stint as Verstappen’s teammate may not end after Madrid. The New Zealander was brought over from Racing Bulls to Red Bull for Zandvoort to replace Hadjar and then remained in the RB22 at Monza. He will also race for Red Bull in Madrid. As long as Hadjar has not fully recovered, his return will depend on the medical situation.

The same applies to Tsunoda: as long as Red Bull calls on Lawson, he will have the opportunity to race for his former team, Racing Bulls. Whether they will get that chance again in Baku, and whether Hadjar will still be sidelined or fit to race, remains an unknown factor for now.