Lawson Takes Monza Seat as Hadjar Focuses on Recovery

Red Bull will keep Isack Hadjar on the sidelines for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, choosing caution over haste as the Frenchman continues his recovery from a fractured wrist. Liam Lawson stays in the seat and gets another high‑profile audition in Formula 1.

Hadjar missed the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort after the injury and has opted for a conservative route back, influenced by the hard lessons of another two-wheeled superstar. He has consulted MotoGP legend Marc Marquez, whose rushed return from an arm break in 2020 led to serious, career-altering complications. Red Bull has taken that warning to heart.

The team says it is “closely monitoring” Hadjar’s rehabilitation and, despite “encouraging progress”, has made it clear there will be “no unnecessary risks with his return”. In a season where every lap is scrutinised and every decision questioned, this one is deliberately risk-averse.

For Lawson, it is an opportunity he has earned the hard way.

The New Zealander impressed on his first outing in the RB22 at Zandvoort, bringing the car home in seventh place in a tricky, high-pressure grand prix. He adapted quickly, handled the changing conditions, and looked like he belonged in the midfield fight.

“Zandvoort gave me a really useful first reference in the car, and having a full sprint weekend behind me means I'm coming into Monza with a much better understanding of the car and what I need from it,” Lawson said.

The message is clear: this is no longer a blind debut; this is a driver arriving with data, confidence, and a feel for the machinery.

Monza, with its long straights and brutal braking zones, offers a completely different test. Lawson will run the full weekend schedule again, with more time to refine his approach and deepen his relationship with the team around him.

There is another twist to Red Bull’s weekend plan. Max Verstappen will step out of his RB22 in first practice to allow Ayumu Iwasa to take the wheel, as the team continues to fulfil its season-long obligation to give rookies four practice outings. It is a brief but valuable window for Iwasa, who joins a growing list of young drivers being cycled through Red Bull machinery as the organisation keeps its talent pipeline flowing.

As at Zandvoort, Yuki Tsunoda will move across to replace Lawson in his usual Racing Bulls car, maintaining continuity within that garage while Lawson continues his stand-in role.

Hadjar watches, waits, and heals. Lawson races on at Monza, with another weekend to show Red Bull exactly what he can do.