Red Bull have set Wednesday, 2 September, as the final cutoff for a decision on whether Isack Hadjar can race at Monza, giving him every available day to recover. First practice for the Italian Grand Prix is on Friday.

Hadjar has sounded upbeat about his chances. He suffered a small fracture in his wrist during a training session over the summer break and was withdrawn from the Dutch Grand Prix on medical advice.

“It’s not swollen, which is very good. 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,” Hadjar told reporters at Zandvoort.

He also admitted the enforced pause has been an unfamiliar experience.

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“Actually, it’s my first injury ever in my whole existence, career, whatever,” Hadjar said, describing time on the sidelines as “weird” and insisting he wanted to be in the car for “every lap.”

Lawson’s Zandvoort audition

Liam Lawson made the call more complicated. Drafted in at short notice, the New Zealander qualified eighth and finished seventh at Zandvoort, scoring his first points for the senior team since being demoted after two rounds in early 2025. Team principal Laurent Mekies praised the drive on F1’s website.

“He’s done a good job stepping into the car. It’s never easy to step into a different team, a different car for a race like that,” Mekies said.

“Only one tenth away from Max yesterday in Qualifying and today took the points that were available to him pace-wise with the seventh place.”

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Mekies noted that Hadjar was in the Red Bull garage all weekend despite not driving, “trying to make sure we can push all together as strongly as we can next week in Monza.”

Tsunoda’s seat hinges on the call

The Wednesday verdict also decides what happens one garage down at Racing Bulls. Yuki Tsunoda, who took over Lawson’s seat at Zandvoort and finished 11th, would continue at Racing Bulls alongside rookie Arvid Lindblad if Lawson is kept at Red Bull for Monza.

If Hadjar is cleared, the chain falls the other way: Lawson returns to Racing Bulls and Tsunoda goes back to his reserve role.

The Italian Grand Prix runs from 4-6 September, with the first free practice session at Monza on Friday.

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