Hadjar offers fresh insight into wrist injury after unwanted spell on sidelines

The French driver was forced to extend his summer break against his wishes after picking up a wrist injury on the eve of the Dutch Grand Prix, which ultimately ruled him out of the entire weekend at Zandvoort.

In his place, the New Zealander returned to partner Max Verstappen after contesting just two races alongside him last year. Lawson held his own, scoring points and delivering an impressive performance considering the limited preparation he had before stepping into the unfamiliar RB22.

With the four-time world champion and local favourite out of contention on the opening lap, Lawson held his own and eventually brought home a seventh-place finish on a weekend in which Red Bull struggled to match the pace of Mercedes, McLaren and Ferrari.

In a backstage video wrapping up the Dutch Grand Prix, Hadjar provided an update on his condition, explaining how his recovery is progressing while also admitting how unusual it has been for him to be unable to get behind the wheel.

The Frenchman then offered a positive update on his recovery, revealing that his wrist is healing quickly and expressing hope that he will be able to return at Monza: "It's not swollen, which is very good. It's a good sign. So, actually, it's healing fast. Every day I have a bit more mobility and I'm hopeful for Monza."

GPblog recently reported that Lawson will remain with Red Bull in the build-up to the Italian Grand Prix, with the New Zealander staying on standby as Hadjar continues his recovery.

The New Zealander remains the team's back-up option while Hadjar recovers from his wrist injury. If the Frenchman is unable to race, Lawson would once again take his place alongside Max Verstappen. Keeping him with the team in the meantime should also ensure he is considerably better prepared for a potential second outing in the RB22 than he was when called up at short notice in Zandvoort.