Liam Lawson Replaces Injured Isack Hadjar at Italian GP

Liam Lawson will again replace the injured Isack Hadjar for this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix at Monza, with Red Bull confirming the French driver will remain off the grid as he recovers from a wrist injury.

Hadjar also missed the previous Grand Prix in the Netherlands, where Lawson stepped in at Zandvoort and finished seventh. The New Zealander will now continue alongside Max Verstappen for the Italian round, while Yuki Tsunoda will take Lawson’s place at Racing Bulls.

The latest driver change keeps Hadjar out for a second successive race weekend and extends Lawson’s opportunity in the Red Bull seat. For the Italian GP, the immediate focus is on Hadjar’s recovery, Lawson’s second straight appearance as his replacement and Tsunoda’s return to Racing Bulls.

Red Bull confirms cautious approach to Hadjar recovery

Red Bull said Hadjar is making encouraging progress following the wrist injury he sustained during the summer break. However, the team said it would not take unnecessary risks with his return to competition.

In its statement, Red Bull confirmed that Lawson would drive alongside Verstappen at Monza while Hadjar continued his rehabilitation. The team added that it was closely monitoring the French driver’s recovery and wished him a speedy recovery.

Hadjar’s absence began at the Dutch Grand Prix, where Lawson filled in and brought the car home seventh. That result means Lawson arrives in Italy after completing a full race weekend in the replacement role, rather than making his first appearance of the season at Monza.

The source did not set a timetable for Hadjar’s return beyond the Italian Grand Prix. Red Bull’s wording made clear that his rehabilitation remains the priority, with the team assessing his condition before bringing him back to competition.

Tsunoda returns to Racing Bulls

Lawson’s move to the Red Bull drive creates another change within the wider Red Bull operation. Tsunoda will again take the Racing Bulls seat after performing the same role at Zandvoort.

The Japanese driver finished 11th in the Netherlands while standing in at Racing Bulls. Tsunoda had partnered Verstappen in Red Bull colours last season, according to the source, and will now return to the Racing Bulls team for the Monza weekend as Lawson continues to cover for Hadjar.

The arrangement leaves the two teams with a familiar short-term solution from the Dutch round: Lawson in the Red Bull alongside Verstappen and Tsunoda at Racing Bulls. It also gives both drivers consecutive involvement in the reshuffled line-up heading into Italy.

Italian GP arrives with championship leader Antonelli ahead

The Italian Grand Prix takes place with Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli leading the championship standings. Antonelli, who turned 20 last week, holds a 59-point advantage over Mercedes teammate George Russell.

Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton is also named among the leading drivers in the source, while the Monza weekend brings renewed attention to Red Bull’s temporary driver arrangements. Lawson’s seventh-place finish in the Netherlands is the most recent result connected to the substitution, and Tsunoda’s 11th-place finish came in the corresponding Racing Bulls role.

For Red Bull, the key development is that Hadjar will not return this weekend despite what the team described as encouraging progress. Lawson will take the wheel again at Monza, Tsunoda will cover at Racing Bulls, and Hadjar’s eventual comeback will depend on the continued monitoring of his wrist rehabilitation.