Red Bull will keep Liam Lawson with the main team ahead of the Italian Grand Prix as doubts linger over Isack Hadjar’s recovery from a fractured wrist.
Lawson, who was thrust into action after Hadjar’s crash at Zandvoort, remains on standby in case the Frenchman isn’t cleared for Monza. Red Bull had initially suggested Hadjar would only miss the Dutch Grand Prix, but the decision to keep Lawson close signals uncertainty, and raises eyebrows over the team’s communication and contingency planning.
Hadjar’s injury came during a practice session at Zandvoort, sidelining him for the race and opening the door for Lawson’s unexpected promotion. Inside the team, Hadjar reportedly expressed confidence about a quick return, telling colleagues his wrist felt much improved by the end of the weekend. Red Bull, however, isn’t taking any chances, keeping Lawson in the mix for at least one more round.
Lawson’s debut at Zandvoort was impressive. With minimal preparation, he qualified just a tenth behind Max Verstappen and finished seventh, trailing only the McLaren, Mercedes, and Ferrari drivers. Team boss Laurent Mekies praised the effort: “It’s so difficult nowadays to jump from a team to another, so I think Liam did what he could. He took the points of seventh place and that’s probably the best he could have done today.”
Still, Mekies pointed out that Verstappen’s crash left no direct pace comparison, so Lawson’s ultimate speed remains a question mark. The rookie also picked up a 10-second penalty for failing to slow under yellow flags, but his gap to the next car made it irrelevant. “I’ll learn from that,” Lawson said, owning up to the mistake but showing the pressure of a sudden F1 call-up.
Unanswered questions over Red Bull’s driver management
Red Bull’s choice to keep Lawson in the main squad, despite Hadjar’s optimism, hints at either lingering medical doubts or a deeper uncertainty within the team’s management. Officially, Hadjar will be re-evaluated before Monza, but the team’s actions suggest they’re preparing for another absence. Hadjar told colleagues he was feeling “better than a few days earlier” during the Dutch weekend, but no independent medical updates have surfaced.
Red Bull’s cautious stance now stands in stark contrast to its earlier messaging, which minimized the injury and implied a one-race layoff. The lack of transparency leaves open the possibility that Hadjar’s recovery is more complicated than the team has let on, or that Red Bull is hedging its bets as the championship fight intensifies.
Communication gaps have also come to light. Racing Bulls CEO Peter Bayer learned of Hadjar’s injury and the potential need for a substitute as early as Friday before Zandvoort, but alternate drivers like Yuki Tsunoda only got the call days later. Tsunoda, who was still on a Greek beach when summoned, managed to adapt quickly but finished outside the points, highlighting the difficulties of last-minute changes.
Lawson’s own future is still up in the air. There’s no word yet on whether he’ll return to Racing Bulls for Monza if Hadjar is cleared. The episode has exposed persistent flaws in Red Bull’s talent management: despite a deep pool of reserve and development drivers, the team seems unprepared when forced to make rapid decisions.
Red Bull’s leadership has praised Lawson’s adaptability and performance. Yet the reality is clear: the team’s driver rotation remains reactive. Uncertainty over Hadjar’s fitness, Lawson’s rushed promotion, and muddled communication with other candidates all point to a system under strain.
Hadjar is hopeful for an Italian Grand Prix return. Until a formal medical sign-off arrives, though, Red Bull’s race lineup remains unsettled.
