Red Bull makes late driver change for Dutch Grand Prix following injury
Red Bull is poised to implement a late driver change for this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix after Isack Hadjar sustained a hand injury during the summer break, reports BritPanorama.
Hadjar is expected to miss the race at Zandvoort following a reported hand fracture sustained while boxing. This injury necessitates a reshuffle in Red Bull’s driver line-up for the event.
Liam Lawson appears set to step up from the sister team, Racing Bulls, to partner Max Verstappen for the weekend. Yuki Tsunoda, currently serving as Red Bull’s reserve driver, is anticipated to replace Lawson at Racing Bulls.
While the team has not yet formally confirmed these changes, they have indicated that Hadjar is “likely” to be unavailable for the Dutch Grand Prix. The specifics of the 21-year-old’s condition have not been fully disclosed.
The situation presents Lawson with an unexpected chance to return to Red Bull after a prior stint with the team was cut short. The New Zealander began the 2025 season alongside Verstappen, but his two lacklustre performances led to his demotion to Racing Bulls.
Tsunoda may also find himself back in competitive action after being dropped by Red Bull at the end of the previous season, which led him to a reserve role with the team. A temporary promotion at Zandvoort would provide the 24-year-old with another opportunity to showcase his abilities alongside the four-time world champion.
These driver changes occur amid a challenging period for Red Bull in the 2026 season. Verstappen has yet to secure a victory, achieving only second-place finishes at both the Austrian and Hungarian Grands Prix. This follows a near miss for the Dutchman in securing his fifth consecutive drivers’ championship last season.
As Verstappen prepares to compete in his home Dutch Grand Prix for the final time, the significance of the event is heightened by its impending removal from the Formula One calendar due to financial viability concerns after this season.
Amid the ups and downs of the season, the Zandvoort circuit promises a poignant farewell for Verstappen, encapsulating the intertwining of personal stakes and competitive ambition in the high-octane world of Formula One.
