F1 star breaks silence on injury as Red Bull prepare last-minute Italian GP decision

Red Bull and Isack Hadjar have clarified the details regarding the driver's enforced absence from the Dutch Grand Prix.

Hadjar missed the event at Zandvoort on August 23 after suffering a minor fracture to his wrist while undertaking fitness work in preparation for the last GP in the Netherlands.

Red Bull promoted New Zealander Liam Lawson from the Racing Bulls, with Yuki Tsunoda returning to the Formula 1 grid to partner Racing Bulls driver Arvid Lindblad.

Lawson finished seventh and sits 19 points behind Hadjar in the drivers' championship standings as doubts gather over the French driver's readiness for the upcoming September double-header in Italy and Spain.

"Actually, it's my first injury ever in my whole existence, career, whatever; so it's weird to be on the bench," said Hadjar, as reported by Crash.

"I'm not happy about it, obviously, for me or the team. I want to be there every lap.

"It's not swollen, which is very good; it's a good sign. So it's healing fast. Every day, I have a bit more mobility, and I'm hopeful for Monza."

According to reporting by Planet F1, Red Bull will make a decision on the driving line-up for the Italian Grand Prix immediately before arriving at the beloved circuit.

"Red Bull will make a last-minute call on Wednesday as to whether Hadjar returns for Monza," reports Planet F1.

"Should Hadjar not be fit to compete, then it is almost guaranteed that Lawson will race again for Red Bull alongside Max Verstappen, with Tsunoda partnering Arvid Lindblad once more at Racing Bulls.

"Lawson was demoted back to Racing Bulls after the first two rounds of 2025, having struggled with the step-up to Red Bull. Skip forward to Zandvoort 2026, and the New Zealander qualified just a tenth down on Verstappen, the four-time world champion."

Hadjar retired from two of the first four Grands Prix in 2026 but has finished in the points in all but one of the races he has completed, claiming fifth in Canada and at Silverstone for his season-best performances.

It's been a more consistent season for the 21-year-old Parisian, who only bettered that position once in his rookie season.

Hadjar secured a landmark finish in last season's Dutch GP. His third place represented a first podium not only for the driver, but for Racing Bulls as a team.

On that occasion, he finished behind race winner Oscar Piastri and Verstappen's Red Bull.

The young driver was himself promoted to the second Red Bull seat ahead of the 2026 season, linking up with Verstappen in place of Tsunoda. The experienced Japanese driver is now the reserve for both teams.

Despite speculation about his future in the middle of the season, Verstappen is leading the way for Red Bull again.

He crashed out in the first lap of his home GP but sits in sixth in the standings, 43 points behind Charles Leclerc in fifth, championship leader Kimi Antonelli and the British trio of George Russell, Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris in between.

Piastri is currently placed between the two Red Bull drivers in seventh.