Isack Hadjar Injury Timeline Revealed as Max Verstappen Sends Message of Hope for Recovery

Racing Bulls CEO Peter Bayer has provided more details about the circumstances surrounding Isack Hadjar’s wrist injury, which forced the young French driver to miss the Dutch Grand Prix. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen has expressed his support for Hadjar and said he hopes his fellow Red Bull driver will make a quick and complete recovery.

Hadjar suffered a wrist fracture during the Formula 1 summer break while taking part in a training session. The injury came at an unfortunate time for the 21-year-old, as it meant he was unable to compete at Zandvoort, a circuit that holds particularly positive memories for him.

Just one year earlier, Hadjar had achieved the biggest result of his Formula 1 career at the same venue. Racing for Racing Bulls at the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix, he delivered a superb performance to finish third and claim his first-ever F1 podium. That result represented a major breakthrough for the young driver and helped establish him as one of the sport’s rising talents.

His absence this time around therefore represented a significant setback. Instead of returning to the circuit where he had enjoyed such a memorable result, Hadjar was forced to watch from the sidelines while recovering from his injury.

With Hadjar unavailable, Racing Bulls and Red Bull were required to make a late change to their driver line-up. Liam Lawson was called upon to replace Hadjar and take the seat alongside Max Verstappen in the Red Bull RB22.

Despite having limited preparation time, Lawson delivered an impressive performance. The New Zealander finished seventh, earning valuable championship points and making a positive impression after being handed the unexpected opportunity.

Lawson was already familiar with the pressure of being called up at short notice at Zandvoort. He previously made his Formula 1 debut at the Dutch Grand Prix in 2023, when he replaced Daniel Ricciardo after the Australian suffered an injury. Lawson once again found himself being asked to step into action at the same venue, although this time the circumstances involved a different team and a different driver.

The changes did not stop with Red Bull. Yuki Tsunoda was also brought back into action to replace Hadjar at Racing Bulls. Tsunoda had left the team at the conclusion of the previous season, but his experience made him a logical choice to step in at short notice.

The Japanese driver had reportedly been enjoying a holiday in Greece when the situation changed. His plans had to be cut short so that he could return and prepare for the race weekend. Tsunoda joined Arvid Lindblad in the VCARB 03 and eventually finished 11th, crossing the line ahead of his team-mate.

For Racing Bulls management, the entire situation required rapid decision-making. Bayer explained that he did not receive confirmation about Hadjar’s injury until late in the previous week. Once the news arrived, the team immediately began working on its contingency plans.

According to Bayer, the first major decisions were made quickly, with Tuesday becoming an important point in determining how the team would approach the upcoming weekend.

He explained that although such circumstances are never welcome, Formula 1 teams have procedures in place to deal with unexpected situations. Once the injury had been confirmed, the organisation was able to follow its established process and begin arranging replacements and preparations.

One of the biggest logistical challenges involved Tsunoda. Because the Japanese driver was away in Greece, Racing Bulls had to quickly reorganise his travel arrangements and get him back into the team’s preparation programme.

Bayer explained that the most significant change involved bringing Tsunoda back from his holiday and getting him into the simulator as soon as possible. The objective was to give him as much preparation and technical support as the team could provide before the race weekend began.

The situation also created an additional challenge for Red Bull because the Dutch Grand Prix was a sprint weekend. A sprint format provides drivers with less practice time and therefore gives a substitute driver fewer opportunities to become familiar with the car and fine-tune his set-up.

Verstappen acknowledged this difficulty when discussing Hadjar’s situation before the weekend began. The three-time world champion said that he only learned about the injury on Tuesday, confirming that the news had reached him relatively late.

Verstappen expressed sympathy for Hadjar and said he hoped the young driver would be able to recover quickly. Although Verstappen was preparing for an important home race, he was clearly aware that Hadjar’s health had to take priority.

He also recognised the challenge facing Lawson. Replacing another driver at short notice is never straightforward, but doing so during a sprint weekend makes the task even more demanding.

Verstappen said he had seen Lawson working in the simulator and hoped the substitute driver had been able to complete as much preparation as possible. The Red Bull star understood that Lawson would have to adapt quickly, particularly given the limited amount of track time available.

Unfortunately for Verstappen himself, the Dutch Grand Prix ended almost immediately. Racing in front of his home supporters, he suffered a major crash at the final corner during difficult conditions and was forced to retire after only one lap.

The incident was a disappointing end to what was expected to be a highly anticipated weekend for Verstappen. It was also his final opportunity to race in front of the Dutch crowd at Zandvoort under the circumstances of the event.

While Verstappen’s weekend ended in dramatic fashion, Lawson was able to take advantage of his unexpected opportunity. His seventh-place finish gave Red Bull some consolation and demonstrated his ability to deliver points despite the unusual circumstances surrounding his promotion.

The weekend also highlighted the unpredictable nature of Formula 1. Driver injuries, last-minute replacements and changing team strategies can force teams to make major decisions within only a few days.

For Hadjar, the immediate priority will be recovering from his wrist fracture rather than focusing on racing. His podium at Zandvoort the previous year demonstrated his potential, and the hope within the Red Bull family will be that he can return to the cockpit once he is medically ready.

The injury is particularly frustrating because Hadjar had been building momentum in his young career. Missing a race is never easy for a driver, especially when it happens at a circuit where he achieved his first podium.

Nevertheless, Bayer’s explanation suggests that the teams acted quickly once the injury became known. Racing Bulls and Red Bull were able to reorganise their driver line-ups, prepare their substitutes and provide them with simulator time before the weekend.

The episode also demonstrated the value of having experienced reserve and substitute drivers available. Lawson’s ability to step into the Red Bull and score points provided an important safety net, while Tsunoda’s familiarity with the Racing Bulls machinery allowed him to return without an extended preparation period.

Ultimately, the Dutch Grand Prix became a weekend of contrasting fortunes for the Red Bull organisation. Hadjar was absent because of injury, Verstappen suffered an early retirement, Lawson produced a strong substitute performance, and Tsunoda returned to the Racing Bulls line-up.

For Hadjar, however, the focus remains firmly on rehabilitation. Verstappen’s supportive comments underline the hope that the young driver will recover quickly and return to competition when he is fully fit.

His previous podium at Zandvoort proved that he has the ability to compete at the highest level. Once his wrist has healed and he is ready to return, Hadjar will be looking to put this unfortunate interruption behind him and continue the promising trajectory of his Formula 1 career.