Isack Hadjar’s return to Zandvoort has ended before it could begin, with the Racing Bulls driver ruled out of this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix due to a wrist injury.
Hadjar suffered the injury during a gym session last week, forcing him to miss the race at a circuit where he celebrated his maiden Formula 1 podium last year.
The Frenchman had even prepared a special helmet for his return to Zandvoort, featuring a reference to the trophy he famously broke during his podium celebrations in 2025.
Despite being unable to race, Hadjar was present in the paddock on Friday, underlining his frustration at missing one of the most memorable events of his young career.
His absence also triggered a last-minute reshuffle of the Red Bull driver line-up.
Racing Bulls CEO Peter Bayer said the team was first informed about the possibility of a change last Friday before Yuki Tsunoda was contacted on Tuesday. Tsunoda had been enjoying a holiday in Greece before being called back to race.
Meanwhile, Liam Lawson has been handed another opportunity with Red Bull after being dropped following the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix.
Source: The Star
While Hadjar was keen to find a way to race, he received advice from an unexpected source. The 21-year-old contacted MotoGP star Marc Marquez after the pair were linked through their shared physiotherapist, Carlos J. García.
Marquez, who has dealt with numerous serious injuries throughout his MotoGP career, advised Hadjar not to rush his recovery or take unnecessary risks.
The Spaniard reportedly urged the young driver to consider his long-term future rather than trying to force an early return, particularly given Hadjar’s age and the length of his F1 career ahead.
Red Bull has taken a similar approach, adopting what it described as a zero-risk policy with the injury.
Team principal Laurent Mekies stressed the importance of protecting Hadjar after the driver’s impressive progress and consistency this season. The priority is to ensure he returns fully fit rather than risk making the injury worse.
Red Bull is now targeting the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, scheduled for two weeks after Zandvoort, as Hadjar’s potential comeback.
Monza is generally considered one of the less physically demanding circuits on the F1 calendar, making it a logical target for his return. However, the schedule will become more demanding soon after, with the Madrid Grand Prix taking place just one week later.
For now, Hadjar’s focus is recovery. While missing the Dutch GP is undoubtedly frustrating, Red Bull is taking the longer view as it looks to ensure one of its most promising young drivers returns to the cockpit in the best possible condition.
