Daily News 19

Tag: Isack Hadjar

  • Naomi Schiff Points to Red Bull Advantage Following Dutch GP Driver Change

    Naomi Schiff Points to Red Bull Advantage Following Dutch GP Driver Change

    Red Bull’s driver swap for the Dutch Grand Prix has reignited discussion about the advantages of Formula 1 teams operating under shared ownership.

    After Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar suffered a wrist fracture before the race weekend at Zandvoort, the Milton Keynes-based team promoted Liam Lawson from sister outfit Racing Bulls. Lawson joined Max Verstappen for the Dutch Grand Prix.

    Racing Bulls then promoted reserve driver Yuki Tsunoda to partner rookie Arvid Lindblad, filling the vacancy created by Lawson’s move.

    Red Bull benefits from shared driver pool

    Former W Series driver and Sky Sports analyst Naomi Schiff said Red Bull benefited from promoting a driver already familiar with the 2026-specification cars, rather than relying on a reserve driver with less experience in the machinery.

    “It seems to be a little bit of an advantage to be able to put someone in who’s already currently driving these cars and I guess Ferrari is the only other team that would probably call on Oliver Bearman,” Schiff explained during an episode of the Up To Speed podcast after co-host and former F1 driver David Coulthard claimed there is a “strength and depth” in Red Bull in that it can pull in drivers from its sister team.

    “Whereas Mercedes have Fred Vesti, who travels with them to most of the races, so it would most likely be him. I do think it works out to be an advantage for Liam, but I think that doesn’t take away from the fact that that was probably a daunting environment for him to step back into, although it does look very different than what it was, what he left behind.”

    Lawson finished the Dutch Grand Prix in seventh place, scoring six points for Red Bull. The team has not yet confirmed whether Hadjar will return for the Italian Grand Prix.

  • Marc Marquez Explains Why He Told Injured Isack Hadjar to Miss the Dutch Grand Prix

    Marc Marquez Explains Why He Told Injured Isack Hadjar to Miss the Dutch Grand Prix

    Marc Marquez has explained why he advised Isack Hadjar not to compete in Formula 1’s Dutch Grand Prix while recovering from a wrist injury.

    The Red Bull driver had been keen to race at Zandvoort last weekend, despite injuring his wrist the previous week while working out in a gym. However, the 21-year-old ultimately decided to sit out the race after discussing the situation with team principal Laurent Mekies and former Red Bull athlete Marquez, who both urged him to prioritise his recovery.

    Reigning MotoGP world champion Marquez has now revealed that Hadjar contacted him after suffering the injury to ask for advice on how to manage his recovery.

    Having seen his own career disrupted by an arm fracture at Jerez in 2020, Marquez advised the French-Algerian driver not to rush his comeback and warned him about the possible consequences.

    “Hadjar contacted me,” Marquez told MotoGP.com. “I’m not a doctor, of course, but just for advice.

    “Because sometimes for a rider, or a driver in this case, it’s super difficult because sometimes you feel that OK, maybe you can. But it’s difficult to accept that, ‘OK, I will skip this race and I will prepare myself in a better way for the next one’.

    “And it’s just what I said. I learned in the past that missing one race will not change your life. Missing, or worsening your injury because you ride too early, can change your life.

    “My life changed a lot since the Jerez injury. So yeah, I just tried to give that advice to Hadjar, and I think he took the correct decision because he has a long career in front [of him].”

    Marquez reflects on his own injury experience

    Marquez’s comments highlight a significant change in his mindset. The factory Ducati rider has repeatedly admitted in recent years that he has learned to accept his physical limitations.

    The Spaniard’s MotoGP career nearly ended when he broke a bone in his arm during a heavy highside at the 2020 season opener in Jerez. After undergoing immediate surgery, he attempted to return just days later at the Andalucian GP, but the additional strain placed on his body weakened the plate attached to his arm.

    After withdrawing midway through the weekend, Marquez missed the entire season. It was not until a fourth operation in 2022 that he regained much of the mobility he had lost in his arm.

    When will Isack Hadjar return to Formula 1?

    Hadjar’s absence from the Dutch GP saw Liam Lawson promoted from Racing Bulls to replace him at Red Bull, while Yuki Tsunoda took Lawson’s place at the sister team.

    It remains unclear when Hadjar will return to action. The next Formula 1 Grand Prix is scheduled to take place at Monza on 6 September.

    Isack Hadjar — Photo by: Rainier Ehrhardt

    Source: www.motorsport.com

  • Isack Hadjar’s Dutch GP Withdrawal Was a “Sign of Confidence,” Says Calum Nicholas

    Isack Hadjar’s Dutch GP Withdrawal Was a “Sign of Confidence,” Says Calum Nicholas

    Isack Hadjar’s decision to withdraw from the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix because of a wrist injury showed confidence rather than weakness, according to former Red Bull mechanic Calum Nicholas.

    Hadjar had made an impressive start to the 2026 Formula 1 season alongside four-time world champion Max Verstappen at Red Bull. However, he stood down for the Zandvoort race after sustaining the injury, allowing Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson to take his place at short notice.

    Lawson finished seventh in a chaotic race after Verstappen’s Red Bull crashed out on the opening lap.

    Hadjar’s Dutch Grand Prix absence praised

    Speaking on the latest episode of the Talking Bull podcast, Nicholas praised Hadjar for prioritising his fitness and the remainder of the season.

    “To take the week out as a precaution to make sure that he was fit for the rest of the season actually shows the confidence that he’s had all year,” Nicholas explained.

    “He’s been doing an incredible job. It’s a real sign of the confidence that he’s got to be able to just say, ‘Look, I’m not 100%. I’m going to take this week out as a precaution.’ And yeah, hopefully we see him back in the car in Monza.”

    Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing. Photo by: Andy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images

    It has not yet been confirmed whether Hadjar will return to the cockpit for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, which takes place from 4 to 6 September. The Red Bull driver was nevertheless present with the team at Zandvoort.

    “We also had Isack with us this weekend even though he couldn’t be driving,” team principal Laurent Mekies said. “He was with the team trying to take the learning and trying to make sure we can push all together as strongly as we can next week in Monza.”

    In his first season with Red Bull, Hadjar sits eighth in the drivers’ championship with 68 points. Verstappen is sixth with 112 points.