Liam Lawson is set to make a shock return to the Red Bull Formula 1 team for this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix, stepping in for an injured Isack Hadjar. The team confirmed the news on Wednesday, with Yuki Tsunoda also getting a call-up to race for the sister Racing Bulls squad.
Hadjar suffered a wrist injury during the F1 summer break, as first reported by Dutch publication De Telegraaf. The injury is severe enough to sideline him for the race at Zandvoort, where he claimed his first F1 podium for Racing Bulls last year. Red Bull has not yet indicated whether Hadjar will miss any subsequent rounds.
Lawson, who currently races for Racing Bulls, will make his third start for the senior Red Bull team. The 24-year-old was originally chosen as Sergio Perez’s replacement for the 2025 season but lasted just two rounds before being dropped, returning to Racing Bulls while Tsunoda was promoted to partner Max Verstappen.
Lawson rebounded impressively from that demotion, scoring points seven times with a best finish of fifth over the remainder of that campaign. That uptick in form helped him retain a drive for 2026 at the expense of Tsunoda, who also struggled to make an impression in the second Red Bull seat.
This season, Lawson has begun encouragingly, sitting ninth in the drivers’ championship with 43 points, a tally that has also helped elevate Racing Bulls into fifth in the constructors’ standings. His experience with the vastly different and complex 2026 cars is likely why he has been chosen over Tsunoda to race alongside Verstappen.
Lawson’s F1 break came at Zandvoort three years ago, when he deputised for Daniel Ricciardo after the Australian broke his hand in a practice crash. Now he returns to the same circuit for another opportunity with the senior team.
Tsunoda, meanwhile, is currently serving as Red Bull’s reserve driver following his exit from a race seat at the end of 2025. This week, he has been linked to an IndyCar future at the Meyer Shank Honda team in place of Indianapolis 500 winner Felix Rosenqvist, as Rosenqvist returns to McLaren’s IndyCar team for 2027. The Zandvoort opportunity will mark Tsunoda’s 90th start for the junior team that he first raced for in 2021.
The Dutch Grand Prix has traditionally taken place one week before the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, but this year there is a two-week gap between them, providing longer for Hadjar to recover.
This reshuffle highlights the depth of Red Bull’s driver pool and the intense competition for seats within the organisation. Lawson’s return to the top team is a testament to his resilience and recent form, while Tsunoda gets a chance to remind everyone of his abilities in a familiar environment.
For Lawson, this is a golden opportunity to prove he belongs at the front of the grid. His previous stint with Red Bull was brief and disappointing, but he has since rebuilt his reputation with consistent performances at Racing Bulls. A strong showing at Zandvoort could cement his future with the senior team.
For Tsunoda, this is a chance to showcase his skills after being sidelined. He has often been criticised for inconsistency, but he has also shown flashes of brilliance. Racing in a car he knows well could help him deliver a solid performance.
The Dutch Grand Prix is set to be a thrilling weekend, with both drivers eager to make their mark. As the F1 season progresses, this unexpected change could have significant implications for the championship battle and the driver market.
