Isack Hadjar has offered an encouraging update on his recovery from the wrist injury that ruled him out of the Dutch Grand Prix, with the Red Bull driver increasingly confident that he will be back behind the wheel at Monza next weekend.
Hadjar was forced to watch the action from the sidelines at Zandvoort after picking up the injury during Formula 1’s summer shutdown. It marked an unfamiliar experience for the 21-year-old, who had never previously been sidelined by an injury during his career.
But despite being unable to race, Hadjar remained with the Red Bull operation at Zandvoort and provided a reassuring glimpse into his recovery while appearing in behind-the-scenes footage filmed by the team.
“Actually, it's my first injury ever in my whole existence, career, whatever,” he told Red Bull in a behind-the-scenes video from the Dutch Grand Prix.
“It's weird to be on the bench and I'm not happy about it, for me and for the team. Obviously, I want to be there every lap.”
Hadjar’s wrist was still supported by a brace during his appearance at Zandvoort, but the Frenchman pointed to the condition of the injury as a positive indication that his recovery is progressing quickly.
“It's not swollen, which is very good,” he said. “It's a good sign. So, actually, it's healing fast. Every day I have a bit more mobility and I'm hopeful for Monza.”
Those words will offer plenty of encouragement to Red Bull as the team prepares for the quick turnaround to Monza, where Hadjar is targeting a return to the cockpit.
His absence at Zandvoort meant Liam Lawson was handed the opportunity to step in, with the Racing Bulls driver making the switch to Red Bull machinery for the weekend. Lawson rewarded the team with a solid seventh-place finish, bringing home six points.
Team principal Laurent Mekies praised Lawson for adapting quickly to the change of machinery and environment, particularly after qualifying strongly alongside Max Verstappen.
“As for Liam, it's never easy to jump from one team to another,” Mekies said last weekend.
“Today he took the points that we were able to take. Yesterday, he did a very good job in qualifying, being very close to Max and we thank him for having been able to adapt so quickly to the team.”
Nevertheless, Red Bull will be hoping that Lawson’s one-off opportunity ends there, with Hadjar’s own assessment suggesting the Frenchman has a strong chance of reclaiming his seat at Monza.
The Italian Grand Prix takes place next week from September 4-6, giving Hadjar another week to complete his recovery and prove that his wrist is ready to withstand the demands of a full race weekend.
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Neither Red Bull nor Hadjar has officially confirmed his participation at Monza yet, but with his mobility improving daily and the swelling already gone, the signs are pointing in an increasingly positive direction.
Hadjar currently occupies eighth place in the drivers’ championship with 68 points, while Verstappen sits sixth on 112. A return at Monza would therefore come at an important stage of the season, with Hadjar eager to resume his campaign rather than spend another weekend watching from the sidelines.
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