Key takeaways
- Crucial advice: Marc Márquez recommended Isack Hadjar skip the Dutch GP to avoid worsening a wrist injury sustained during a boxing workout.
- Hard-learned lesson: Márquez highlighted his 2020 Jerez crash as a turning point, warning that rushing a comeback can alter a career forever.
- Prioritizing the future: Hadjar followed the advice, stepping aside as Red Bull expects him to return fully fit for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.
Marc Márquez revealed the personal advice he gave to Racing Bulls driver Isack Hadjar after the Frenchman was forced to sit out the Dutch Grand Prix due to a wrist fracture suffered during a training session. The Spanish rider urged Hadjar not to expedite his return to the cockpit, drawing on his own career-altering experiences with injuries to demonstrate the risks of rushing back too soon.
Speaking to MotoGP’s official channel ahead of the Aragon Grand Prix, the Ducati rider confirmed that Hadjar reached out directly to seek his perspective on managing physical setbacks. While clarifying that he could not offer medical opinions, Márquez shared the lessons he accumulated through years of complex recoveries.
“Hadjar reached out to me. I’m not a doctor, of course, but he just asked for advice, as sometimes for a rider it’s very difficult,” Márquez explained. “Sometimes you feel like maybe you can get through it without any issues, but it’s hard to accept the idea of: ‘Okay, I’m going to miss this race and prepare better for the next one.’ But that’s exactly what I told him.“
Márquez stressed that the primary concern should always be preventing further damage. The Spanish multi-time World Champion pointed to his severe right-arm injury at Jerez in 2020—which required four major surgeries over two years—and his late-2025 shoulder fracture as reminders of the long-term consequences of rushing.
“I learned in the past that missing a race won’t change your life, but aggravating an injury because you rode too early can change it,” Márquez emphasized. “My life changed a lot after what happened at Jerez. That’s why I tried to give that advice to Isack [Hadjar], and I think he made the right decision, as he has a long career ahead of him.“
Hadjar’s decision to sit out at Zandvoort allowed Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda to step into modified roles across the Red Bull structure, while Márquez’s advice came through a connection shared via their physiotherapist, Carlos J. García. Red Bull expects Hadjar to be fully recovered to return for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.
MotoGP resumes action from August 28–30 for the Aragon Grand Prix, the 13th round of the 2026 season. GRANDE PRÊMIO provides complete live coverage of every session across all categories. Follow all updates on our news page.
MotoGP 2026 World Championship Standings (Top 5)
| Pos | Driver | Team | Bike | Points |
| 1 | Jorge Martín | Aprilia Racing | Aprilia | 240 |
| 2 | Marco Bezzecchi | Aprilia Racing | Aprilia | 219 |
| 3 | Francesco Bagnaia | Ducati Lenovo Team | Ducati | 218 |
| 4 | Ai Ogura | Trackhouse Racing | Aprilia | 203 |
| 5 | Marc Márquez | Ducati Lenovo Team | Ducati | 192 |
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
1. How did Isack Hadjar sustain his injury before the Dutch Grand Prix?
Isack Hadjar sustained a minor wrist fracture during a boxing workout session during the F1 summer break.
2. Why did Marc Márquez advise Isack Hadjar against racing at Zandvoort?
Drawing from his own severe injury history in MotoGP, Márquez warned Hadjar that pushing through an injury could cause long-term complications that outweigh the cost of missing a single race.
3. When is Isack Hadjar expected to return to Formula 1 action?
Red Bull targets Hadjar’s full return at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, taking place from September 4–6, 2026.
