Key takeaways
- Wednesday medical decision: Isack Hadjar will undergo evaluations and simulator tests on Wednesday to decide his availability for Monza.
- Lawson ready to step in: Liam Lawson remains Red Bull’s contingency option, having impressed with a 7th-place finish at Zandvoort.
- Cascading seats: If Lawson moves to Red Bull, Yuki Tsunoda will rejoin Racing Bulls, replicating the team’s driver swap structure from the Dutch GP.
Red Bull Racing has finalized its driver contingency strategy for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza in the event that Isack Hadjar is not cleared by medical personnel.
According to RacingNews365, Hadjar’s wrist recovery has progressed positively following the injury he sustained during a training session prior to Zandvoort. However, Red Bull is delaying its final decision until next Wednesday to grant the French driver maximum recovery time. Hadjar will undergo medical examinations alongside a dedicated simulator session to test his wrist under load.
Should doctors withhold clearance, Red Bull will execute the same driver configuration utilized in the Netherlands: Liam Lawson will step into the primary RB22 cockpit alongside Max Verstappen, while Yuki Tsunoda will return to the grid to drive for Racing Bulls.
During the Dutch GP, Lawson delivered a solid performance by finishing 7th in the RB22, while Tsunoda crossed the line 11th for the Faenza squad.
Red Bull’s driver plan comes alongside a busy news cycle ahead of Monza, including Lando Norris extending his McLaren contract through 2030, Max Verstappen citing a potential V8 return as motivation to stay in F1, and Ferrari greenlighting power unit and chassis upgrades for Monza.
Formula 1 resumes track action from September 4–6 at Monza for the Italian Grand Prix, the 13th round of the 2026 World Championship. GRANDE PRÊMIO provides complete live coverage of every session across all categories. Follow all updates on our news page.
World Championship Standings (Top 5 after Dutch GP)
| Pos | Driver | Team | Engine | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andrea Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | Mercedes | 242 |
| 2 | George Russell | Mercedes | Mercedes | 183 |
| 3 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | Ferrari | 183 |
| 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren | Mercedes | 159 |
| 5 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | Ferrari | 155 |
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
1. Why did Isack Hadjar miss the Dutch Grand Prix?
Isack Hadjar missed the Dutch Grand Prix after suffering a wrist injury during a training session leading up to the race weekend.
2. Who will drive for Red Bull if Isack Hadjar is not cleared for Monza?
If Hadjar is ruled out, Liam Lawson will drive for Red Bull Racing, while Yuki Tsunoda will race for Racing Bulls.
3. When is the next race on the 2026 Formula 1 calendar?
Formula 1 returns to action from September 4–6, 2026, for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.
