Isack Hadjar will miss a third consecutive Formula 1 grand prix this weekend, as his wrist injury continues to keep him away from the cockpit.
Red Bull confirmed on Monday evening that the Frenchman is still not ready to return to competitive action at the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid.
Liam Lawson will once again step into the RB22 alongside Max Verstappen, continuing the arrangement that began when Hadjar first picked up his injury.
Yuki Tsunoda will also remain in place at Racing Bulls, extending his unexpected return to the Formula 1 grid for another weekend.
“The decision has been taken as Isack’s recovery continues to progress positively,” Red Bull stated. “While he is not yet ready to return to the cockpit, he will be in Madrid supporting the team.”
Hadjar sustained a wrist fracture at the end of the summer break while boxing, which forms a regular part of his fitness and training routine.
The injury first forced him out of the Dutch Grand Prix in August, prompting Red Bull to shuffle Lawson up from Racing Bulls to partner Verstappen at the parent team.
Reserve driver Tsunoda was handed a Racing Bulls race seat as a result, providing the Japanese driver with an F1 comeback alongside the reshuffle.
Red Bull team boss Laurent Mekies had already indicated ahead of the Italian Grand Prix that a return for Hadjar at the new Madring circuit would be “tricky,” and that assessment has now been officially confirmed.
Lawson’s return to Red Bull has been notably smoother than his turbulent two-race stint at the start of 2025, with the New Zealander taking seventh place at Zandvoort before an engine penalty hampered his race in Monza.
Tsunoda, meanwhile, scored his first point of the campaign at the Italian Grand Prix, crossing the line in 10th place at Monza to register a meaningful result for Racing Bulls.
However, that result is not entirely without controversy, as Audi is still reportedly considering an appeal against the stewards’ decision not to penalise Tsunoda for causing an extra formation lap.
With the Spanish Grand Prix forming part of a double-header weekend and the turnaround between events extremely tight, Red Bull opted against rushing Hadjar back before his recovery is complete.
The team’s cautious approach underlines how seriously they are treating the injury, prioritising long-term fitness over short-term availability for their sophomore driver.