Key Highlights
- Isack Hadjar returns to Red Bull Racing for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after recovering from a wrist injury sustained during summer training.
- Liam Lawson completes his three-race substitute stint and returns to Visa Cash App Racing Bulls, while Yuki Tsunoda resumes reserve driver duties.
- The Baku weekend schedule is condensed: Free Practice on Thursday, Qualifying on Friday, and the Grand Prix on Saturday to avoid a clash with Azerbaijan’s Remembrance Day on September 27.
Hadjar Cleared for Baku Return After Summer Injury Layoff
Isack Hadjar is set to reclaim his seat at Oracle Red Bull Racing for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, marking the end of a nearly two-month absence forced by a wrist injury sustained during off-track training over the summer break. The French-Algerian rookie missed three consecutive rounds — Zandvoort, Monza, and the inaugural Madring event — while undergoing rehabilitation. Red Bull confirmed on Tuesday that Hadjar has been declared fully fit and will participate in Thursday’s opening free practice session at the Baku City Circuit.
Lawson’s Interim Stint Concludes with Praise from Red Bull Leadership
Liam Lawson, who stepped into the second Red Bull seat alongside Max Verstappen for the three missed races, will now return to Visa Cash App Racing Bulls. The New Zealander’s performances drew explicit commendation from the team’s hierarchy. In a statement issued Tuesday, Red Bull emphasized Lawson’s professionalism under difficult circumstances:
“Oracle Red Bull Racing is delighted to welcome Isack back this weekend,” read a statement issued by Red Bull on Tuesday.
“Having made a successful recovery from his wrist injury, Isack will return to action at the Baku City Circuit on Thursday.”
“The team would like to sincerely thank Liam for his professionalism, dedication and hard work over the past three races.”
“Stepping in under challenging circumstances, he delivered some impressive performances and made a valuable contribution to the team.”
“We wish him all the best as he returns to Visa Cash App Racing Bulls.”
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Lawson’s temporary promotion came at a critical juncture in the Constructors’ Championship battle, and his ability to extract competitive results from the RB20 on short notice strengthened Red Bull’s depth chart heading into the season’s final stretch.
Tsunoda Resumes Reserve Role as Driver Rotation Resets
The driver shuffle also sees Yuki Tsunoda revert to reserve driver duties for Red Bull Racing. The Japanese driver had been elevated to a more visible support role during Lawson’s stint but now returns to his standard simulator and development program. The rotation underscores Red Bull’s fluid driver pool strategy across its two Formula 1 entries, with Racing Bulls serving as both a development platform and a tactical reserve for the senior team.
Compressed Baku Schedule Adds Tactical Complexity
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend operates on an altered timetable to accommodate Azerbaijan’s Remembrance Day on September 27. Rather than the traditional Friday-to-Sunday format, track action begins Thursday with Free Practice, followed by Qualifying on Friday and the Grand Prix itself on Saturday. This compression reduces preparation time for Hadjar’s reintegration and places a premium on immediate pace during the sole practice session. Engineers must finalize setup directions with minimal running, while Hadjar reacclimates to the RB20’s handling characteristics on a street circuit notorious for punishing errors.
Why This Matters
Hadjar’s return signals Red Bull’s confidence in their 2024 rookie investment amid a tightly contested Constructors’ fight. The team’s willingness to rotate Lawson back to Racing Bulls — rather than extend his audition — suggests satisfaction with Hadjar’s pre-injury trajectory and a desire to maintain continuity in their long-term driver development pipeline. For Lawson, the three-race audition provided valuable exposure to championship-pressure weekends, likely strengthening his case for a 2025 seat. The condensed Baku schedule, meanwhile, tests every team’s operational agility, with single-practice formats historically producing unpredictable grids and strategic variance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Isack Hadjar miss the last three races?
Hadjar sustained a wrist injury while training during the summer break, forcing him to sit out the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, and the inaugural Madring event while he underwent rehabilitation.
What happens to Liam Lawson now?
Lawson returns to Visa Cash App Racing Bulls after completing his three-race substitute stint with the senior Red Bull team. Red Bull publicly thanked him for his “professionalism, dedication and hard work” and noted he “delivered some impressive performances.”
Why is the Azerbaijan Grand Prix schedule different this year?
The weekend has been moved forward by one day — Free Practice on Thursday, Qualifying on Friday, and the race on Saturday — to avoid a clash with Azerbaijan’s Remembrance Day on September 27.