Red Bull confirms Liam Lawson for Italian Grand Prix

Red Bull has confirmed that Liam Lawson will continue to drive alongside Max Verstappen at this weekend's Italian Grand Prix in Monza, replacing the injured Isack Hadjar for a second consecutive race. Both Red Bull-owned teams announced their lineups on Wednesday, according to multiple reports.

The 21-year-old Frenchman, who missed last month's Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort after injuring his wrist in a training incident, has not recovered in time for the race at Monza. Hadjar was seen in the paddock at the Dutch Grand Prix wearing a protective sleeve on his forearm. The injury, reportedly sustained during a boxing workout, has kept him out of action for a second event.

Red Bull said in a statement: "Liam will drive alongside Max at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, while Isack continues to make encouraging progress following the wrist injury sustained during the summer break." The team added: "The team is closely monitoring his rehabilitation and will take no unnecessary risks with his return to competition and wishes him a speedy recovery."

In a Red Bull team video recorded at the Dutch Grand Prix, Hadjar said: "It's my first injury ever in my whole existence, career, whatever. It's weird to be on the bench and I'm not happy about it, for me and for the team." He continued: "It's not swollen, which is a good sign. Actually, it's healing fast. Every day I have a bit more mobility and I'm hopeful for Monza."

Lawson's return to the senior team

Lawson, a 24-year-old New Zealander, normally races for Red Bull's sister team Racing Bulls. He was promoted back to the senior team last month after being dropped by Red Bull just two races into the 2025 season. At Zandvoort, Lawson qualified eighth, just 0.115 seconds off teammate Verstappen, and finished seventh, scoring six points and taking his season tally to 49. That result has lifted him to ninth in the drivers' standings, one place behind Hadjar in eighth, with Verstappen sixth.

Verstappen, who crashed out of his home race on the opening lap at Zandvoort, will not take part in Friday's first free practice session at Monza, with rookie Ayumu Iwasa taking his spot.

Tsunoda remains at Racing Bulls

Lawson's replacement at Racing Bulls will again be Yuki Tsunoda, who stepped in at Zandvoort and finished 11th. Tsunoda, who was dropped by Red Bull in December, is contracted as the team's reserve driver for the 2026 Formula One season and serves as official reserve driver for both Red Bull-owned teams. He will race alongside British-Swedish rookie Arvid Lindblad, who finished 12th at Zandvoort.

Racing Bulls' lead over Alpine in the constructors' championship has been cut to five points after the Dutch Grand Prix, with Red Bull fourth in the standings behind Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren.

Looking ahead

Formula One heads to Monza for the 13th round of the season, with the first practice session scheduled for Friday. The Spanish Grand Prix at Madrid's new Madring circuit is due to debut the weekend after Monza, followed by the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku on September 26. There has been no word yet on whether Hadjar could return for the Spanish Grand Prix.