Racing Bulls CEO reveals behind-the-scenes timeline of Hadjar injury and driver swaps for Dutch GP

Key takeaways

• Last-minute driver shuffle: A wrist injury suffered by Isack Hadjar during Formula 1’s summer break triggered a rapid back-and-forth driver rearrangement across the Red Bull roster prior to Zandvoort.
• Lawson promoted, Tsunoda recalled: Red Bull called up Liam Lawson to partner Max Verstappen at the main team, while Yuki Tsunoda was flown back from vacation to replace Lawson at Racing Bulls alongside Arvid Lindblad.
• Behind-the-scenes timeline: Racing Bulls CEO Peter Bayer revealed that final decisions were locked in by Tuesday, August 18, requiring Tsunoda to undergo emergency simulator sessions before track action began.

Isack Hadjar’s injury caused a race against time behind the scenes at Red Bull and Racing Bulls prior to the Dutch Grand Prix. Peter Bayer, CEO of Racing Bulls, revealed the timeline of the operation that ended with Liam Lawson taking over Hadjar’s seat at Red Bull and Yuki Tsunoda returning to his former team at Zandvoort.

In an interview with journalists at the Dutch circuit, Bayer explained that the movement began late the previous week, when Red Bull received news regarding Hadjar’s injury. The final decision on the replacements was taken on Tuesday (18), with Lawson being called up to occupy the RB22 and Tsunoda summoned to substitute Lawson at Racing Bulls.

“I found out about the injury at the end of last week. Then, obviously, the phone started ringing. There were several calls, and on Tuesday, we made the decision on how we would approach this weekend,” he stated.

“As for the changes, honestly, as much as we dislike seeing these things happen, we know what to do. The biggest change was really in Yuki’s travel plans. We brought him back from Greece and put him in the simulator to give him all the support possible,” he concluded.

Hadjar suffered a wrist fracture during a training session held over Formula 1’s summer break and was required to miss the Dutch Grand Prix. The Frenchman underwent medical examinations that confirmed the necessity of his absence from competition.

With his absence, Lawson was promoted to Red Bull to partner Max Verstappen for the weekend in Zandvoort. The move opened up a seat at Racing Bulls, which turned to Tsunoda to complete their driver lineup alongside Arvid Lindblad.

Formula 1 returns for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, the 13th round of the 2026 season. GRANDE PRÊMIO covers all track action live. Follow all updates on our news page.

Red Bull & Racing Bulls Driver Replacements at Zandvoort

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

1. Why did Isack Hadjar miss the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix?

Isack Hadjar sustained a fractured wrist during a training session over the Formula 1 summer break, ruling him out of the event.

2. Who drove for Red Bull Racing alongside Max Verstappen at Zandvoort?

Liam Lawson was called up from Racing Bulls to substitute for Hadjar in the RB22.

3. How did Racing Bulls adapt to Liam Lawson’s promotion?

Racing Bulls recalled Yuki Tsunoda from his summer vacation in Greece and placed him directly into the simulator to prepare to drive alongside Arvid Lindblad.