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Red Bull confirmed the driver change on Wednesday following earlier reports that Hadjar would be unable to compete at Zandvoort, with Lawson stepping up from Racing Bulls to partner Max Verstappen. Both Red Bull and Racing Bulls announced the reshuffle through brief statements, with Yuki Tsunoda returning to the sister team to fill Lawson’s vacant seat alongside Arvid Lindblad. Red Bull confirmed Hadjar sustained the injury during Formula 1’s summer shutdown, although it provided no further details on how it occurred or the extent of the damage. “Oracle Red Bull Racing driver, Isack Hadjar, has sustained a wrist injury during summer shutdown that will prevent him from racing at the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix,” the team said. “We will be welcoming back Liam Lawson who will replace him in RB22 this weekend. “The Team wishes Isack a speedy recovery and thanks Liam for stepping in on short notice.” Racing Bulls followed by confirming Tsunoda would step into Lawson’s car at Zandvoort. “Visa Cash App Racing Bulls can confirm that Liam Lawson will race for Oracle Red Bull Racing at the Dutch Grand Prix this weekend due to Isack Hadjar’s wrist injury,” Racing Bulls said. “As a result of the driver change, Reserve Driver Yuki Tsunoda, will race for Racing Bulls in Zandvoort this weekend, alongside Arvid Lindblad. “We thank both Liam and Yuki for their adaptability as the teams prepare for the weekend and we wish Isack a speedy recovery.” View this post on Instagram BBC Sport had earlier reported Hadjar was understood to have suffered the injury while boxing during the break, while Dutch publication De Telegraaf initially reported the Frenchman had been hurt during a gym session. Neither detail was addressed by Red Bull when confirming Hadjar would miss the weekend. Lawson’s return represents another dramatic twist in his Red Bull career, less than 18 months after he was dropped from the senior team following just two races. The New Zealander earned promotion to Red Bull ahead of the 2025 season and was initially expected to spend the year alongside Verstappen. However, difficult outings across the opening two rounds resulted in Lawson being sent back to Racing Bulls, with Tsunoda promoted in his place for the remainder of the campaign. Hadjar subsequently replaced Tsunoda at Red Bull for 2026, while the Japanese driver moved into a reserve role. Zandvoort also holds particular significance in Lawson’s F1 career, having been the scene of his grand prix debut in 2023. In an ironic parallel, Lawson was called up to replace Daniel Ricciardo, who was forced to withdraw with a wrist injury after crashing during practice, with the New Zealander stepping into the then-AlphaTauri at short notice. He remained in the car for five races while Ricciardo recovered, a run that helped strengthen his case for a permanent place on the F1 grid. The recall comes during a strong season for Lawson, who sits ninth in the drivers’ championship after rebuilding his standing with Racing Bulls following last year’s brief Red Bull stint. Red Bull has not indicated how long Hadjar will be sidelined or whether he is expected to return for the following round at Monza.