Isack Hadjar set to miss Dutch Grand Prix as Red Bull replacement named

Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar is set to miss the Dutch Grand Prix this weekend, it has been reported.

Dutch outlet De Telegraaf report that Hadjar is suffering from a wrist injury after a gym session, with Red Bull said to have taken immediate action in response to the situation.

It is claimed that Liam Lawson, currently driving for Racing Bulls, has been lined up as a replacement for Hadjar, though Red Bull declined to comment when approached by the Dutch outlet.

However, the New Zealand Herald say that Racing Bulls have gone as far as confirming to them that Kiwi star Lawson will be returning to Red Bull ahead of the weekend to cover for Hadjar.

Lawson was Red Bull's second driver, along Max Verstappen, at the beginning of the 2025 season, but was dropped after just two races.

His replacement was Yuki Tsunoda, who is now Red Bull's reserve driver after being replaced by Hadjar for 2026. De Telegraaf report that the Japanese driver is set to step in as Arvid Lindblad's temporary team-mate at Racing Bulls.

Why Red Bull have turned back to Lawson

On the face of it, Tsunoda may have appeared the obvious choice to step in for Hadjar, given he has been present at Grands Prix this season and will have worked closely with both Verstappen and Hadjar.

Tsunoda is reportedly in talks over a switch to IndyCar for 2027, with no path to a full-time Formula 1 seat currently appearing to be on offer - which could perhaps explain Red Bull's decision to choose Lawson ahead of him as Hadjar's replacement.

The Japanese driver is said to have held discussions with Meyer Shank Racing over taking the #66 car for next season, with its current incumbent Marcus Armstrong set to switch to the #60 in place of Felix Rosenqvist, who is joining Arrow McLaren.

Meyer Shank run two cars but also field a one-off third entry when veteran Helio Castroneves competes at the Indianapolis 500.

Former F1 drivers Marcus Ericsson and Alexander Rossi are both locked in for IndyCar's 2027 season, with Mick Schumacher and Romain Grosjean under contract for at least the remainder of 2026.

READ MORE: Yuki Tsunoda set to move to new motorsport after door closes on F1 return

The last driver to win the IndyCar title was Jacques Villeneuve in 1995, when it was still known as the CART Series. Villeneuve moved to F1 a year later and won the Drivers' Championship in his debut season; Nigel Mansell had done the opposite when he won the F1 title in 1992 before repeating the feat in IndyCar in 1993.