Red Bull confirms Liam Lawson will drive alongside Max Verstappen at Monza as Isack Hadjar continues injury recovery – Red Bull has confirmed that Liam Lawson will drive alongside Max Verstappen at the Italian Grand Prix after Isack Hadjar was ruled out as he continues recovering from a wrist injury suffered during the summer break.
The decision means Lawson will make his second consecutive appearance for Red Bull after already replacing Hadjar at the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort. Hadjar, who suffered a broken bone in his wrist during boxing training shortly before the Zandvoort weekend, has not yet been cleared to return to Formula 1 action.
“Liam (Lawson, ed.) will drive alongside Max at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, while Isack continues to make good progress in his recovery from the wrist injury he suffered during the summer break,” Red Bull Racing said in a statement.
“The team continues to closely monitor his rehabilitation process and will not take any unnecessary risks upon his return to racing. At the same time, the team wishes him a speedy and full recovery,” the team added.
Lawson gets another opportunity alongside Verstappen
Hadjar, 21, was already forced to miss the Dutch Grand Prix because of the injury, with Lawson stepping up from Racing Bulls to replace him at Red Bull.
The New Zealander produced a solid performance at Zandvoort, finishing seventh and scoring valuable championship points. His result also gives him another opportunity to demonstrate his credentials alongside four-time world champion Verstappen.
Lawson will therefore head to Monza knowing that he has at least one more race to impress Red Bull’s senior management while Hadjar continues his rehabilitation.
The decision also avoids any unnecessary pressure being placed on Hadjar to return before he is fully recovered.
Tsunoda returns to Racing Bulls
Lawson’s promotion to Red Bull creates another vacancy at Racing Bulls, with Yuki Tsunoda once again stepping into the seat.
Tsunoda impressed in the Netherlands after returning to competitive Formula 1 action following a racing absence of more than eight months. The Japanese driver finished 11th, narrowly missing out on championship points.
He will now continue in that role at Monza while Lawson represents Red Bull alongside Verstappen.
The unusual driver movements underline the depth of Red Bull’s current driver situation, with both Lawson and Tsunoda being moved between the senior team and Racing Bulls depending on circumstances.
Hadjar’s recovery remains the priority
Red Bull had already begun preparing for the possibility that Hadjar would not be ready for Monza following his absence at Zandvoort.
Lawson was reportedly involved in discussions and planning for the Italian Grand Prix, giving the team a degree of certainty before making its final decision.
The immediate priority for the team is ensuring Hadjar makes a complete recovery rather than rushing him back into the car.
Lawson’s seventh-place finish in Zandvoort has also strengthened his position statistically. He now has 49 points in the drivers’ championship, compared with Hadjar’s 68.
The gap means Hadjar remains ahead, but Lawson’s latest opportunity could become increasingly significant if his strong form continues while standing in for his injured teammate.
With Monza approaching, the question is now how long Lawson’s latest spell alongside Verstappen will last — and whether Hadjar will be ready to return for the next round of the championship.
Would you like to see more TJ13 Formula 1 coverage? Add us to your favourites list on Google to receive trusted F1 news.
Craig Alderson is Senior Editor at TJ13, where Craig oversees newsroom operations and coordinates editorial output across the site. With a background in online sports reporting and motorsport magazine editing, he plays a key role in maintaining consistency, speed, and accuracy in TJ13’s coverage.
During race weekends, Craig acts as desk lead, directing contributors, prioritising breaking stories, and ensuring timely publication across a fast-moving news cycle.
Craig’s work focuses heavily on real-time developments in the paddock, including team updates, regulatory decisions, and emerging controversies. This role requires a detailed understanding of Formula 1’s operational flow, from practice sessions through to race-day strategy and post-race fallout.
With experience managing editorial teams, Craig ensures that TJ13 delivers structured, reliable coverage while maintaining the site’s distinctive voice.
Craig has a particular interest in how information moves within the paddock environment, and how rapidly developing stories can be accurately translated into clear, accessible reporting for readers.
