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After a relatively quiet summer break, Isack Hadjar’s wrist damage has sprung the F1 news cycle into life. The Frenchman will miss out on this weekend’s Dutch GP, as he recovers from an injury allegedly sustained whilst boxing. Hadjar’s future should be unaffected by his time away, with Red Bull expected to retain his services alongside Max Verstappen in 2027. However, the 21-year-old being sidelined could have massive implications for Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson – as wheels of the driver market begin to turn. Lawson looks to increase market value On paper, Lawson can be credited with one of the more impressive campaigns in 2026. The Kiwi has been a regular in the top 10, with his 43 points putting him 9th in the standings. As the unofficial ‘best of the rest’ this year, Lawson has capitalised on a competitive and reliable VCARB. Both Lawson and teammate Arvid Lindblad have been very complimentary of their 2026 machinery, which has given the duo a good platform to showcase their abilities. Despite this, Lawson’s chances of returning to Red Bull – at least prior to Hadjar’s injury – were always limited. To be clear, the expectation is not that he amazes Red Bull into giving him a seat alongside Verstappen next year. However, his upcoming stint in the RB22 – however brief – could be crucial for Lawson to improve his market value. As it stands, Lawson’s strong performances at Racing Bulls could be insufficient in securing his place on the grid. Due to his previous time at Red Bull, as outlined above, a full-time return to the main team is unlikely. In theory, the 24-year-old could continue at VCARB as a solid benchmark. After all, he is currently the team’s top performing driver. Unfortunately for Lawson, this is not how Red Bull operate with their second team. Whilst still not VCARB’s fastest driver, Lindblad has impressed Red Bull in his rookie campaign. Having just turned 19 years old, the British driver will be given more time by Red Bull to develop and improve. This means that if Red Bull promote a youngster into the Racing Bulls, it would be at Lawson’s expense. With Red Bull junior driver Nikola Tsolov currently leading the Formula 2 standings, there is a real possibility he is promoted next year. Of course, there are teams elsewhere on the grid evaluating their options. However, despite his strong performances for VCARB, Lawson was unlikely to assert himself as a leading option in the market. (cont. on next page)