Red Bull Racing has confirmed Liam Lawson will retain his seat alongside Max Verstappen for the Spanish Grand Prix at the new Madring circuit in Madrid this weekend. The decision comes as Isack Hadjar continues his recovery from a wrist injury sustained during training over the summer break.
Lawson Extends Stint with Senior Team
Lawson initially replaced Hadjar at the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort and kept the drive for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. During this period, Yuki Tsunoda moved back to Racing Bulls to fill Lawson’s former seat alongside Arvid Lindblad.
In a statement released Monday, Red Bull outlined the reasoning behind the extended arrangement:
“After racing for the team in Zandvoort and Monza, Liam will continue to drive alongside Max at this week’s Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid,”
read a statement from Red Bull.
“The decision has been taken as Isack’s recovery continues to progress positively. While he is not yet ready to return to the cockpit, he will be in Madrid supporting the team.
Everyone at Oracle Red Bull Racing looks forward to welcoming Isack back behind the wheel very soon.”
Recent Form and Team Dynamics
Lawson has delivered mixed results in his two starts for the senior squad, finishing seventh at Zandvoort and 14th at Monza. Meanwhile, Tsunoda has shown consistent pace since returning to Racing Bulls, scoring 11th and 10th-place finishes respectively.
Hadjar will travel to Madrid to support the team trackside despite remaining sidelined. No definitive timeline has been provided for his return, though the team’s statement suggests his comeback is approaching.
The Spanish Grand Prix marks Formula 1’s inaugural visit to the Madring layout, adding an extra layer of complexity for Lawson as he navigates an unfamiliar circuit in the Red Bull RB21.
