Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies says the team will prioritise Isack Hadjar’s recovery over rushing him back, with evaluations planned before a call on whether he races at next week’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Routine training ahead of the sport’s return from its summer break saw Hadjar injure his wrist, which has kept him out of the last three races. In his absence, Liam Lawson has stepped in to take his place.
Mekies on Hadjar’s Recovery
“There is nothing wrong with Isack’s recovery,” Mekies said. “I think we have learned that it’s fundamentally a normal time for the sort of injuries he has.”
The team will evaluate Hadjar’s situation in a week’s time. They have a full week, a bit more than a full week, to assess how he feels and put him on the simulator.
“If he feels close to 100 per cent, we go for it,” Mekies said. “If he feels the recovery is not completed, we will stick to our approach to put his recovery first.”
The Azerbaijan GP Schedule
This coming Wednesday will see practice for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which begins a day sooner than usual, before a Saturday race.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Practice | Wednesday |
| Race | Saturday |
| Location | Baku |
The opening contest of a three-part sequence begins now, with the remaining two rounds set for Malaysia and Singapore over the next two weekends.
Lawson’s Stand-In Performances
Hadjar’s absence has forced Lawson back into action, stepping up from sister Racing Bulls to fill the gap. The New Zealander is returning to a seat he occupied briefly at the beginning of last season, a spell that did not go well for him.
Yuki Tsunoda has been driving for Racing Bulls.
At Zandvoort and Madrid, Lawson finished eighth and earned points on two separate occasions, including a sixth-place result in the latter race.
What Mekies Says About Lawson
“I think he’s done a very good job,” Mekies said. “I think we all know how difficult it is to jump to a different team, to a different car, and I think he has done that to the best of what could have been our expectations.”
He praised Lawson’s focus. “He’s very calm in the car; he’s very focused,” Mekies said. “He’s certainly making… I don’t know if he makes an effort or not [to do it], but he’s certainly managed to keep things simple in the way he tracks with the team and in the way he tackles his own performance and the car performance.”
The Key Numbers
- Hadjar has missed three races since the summer break with an injured wrist
- Lawson scored points at Zandvoort and Madrid, finishing sixth in Madrid
- Practice for the Azerbaijan GP takes place Wednesday
- The race runs Saturday in Baku
The Team’s Position
The team has learned that Hadjar’s injuries take time. Mekies said they will continue with the same approach, evaluating the situation in a week’s time.
“We will evaluate the situation in a week’s time,” Mekies said. “We have a full week, a bit more than a full week, to evaluate situations, to see how he feels and then to put him on the simulator, to expose him to real-life constraints.”
What Comes Next
Before a final decision is made on whether Hadjar races in Baku, the team will first evaluate his simulator performance. Until that point, Lawson will keep driving.
Hadjar is not being rushed back, according to Red Bull.
See the video the story is built around at Skysports.
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