Hadjar expects to be able to race again in Baku despite painful wrist

According to RacingNews365, Isack Hadjar is returning in Baku after missing three Grands Prix. The Red Bull driver is still in pain from a fractured wrist, but a successful simulator test gives him confidence ahead of his comeback.

GPBeat · Newsroom24 Sept 2026, 09:06 · 2 min

Hadjar says he has a small fracture on the outside of his wrist. Surgery was not needed, but the wrist is still painful. The Red Bull driver told media present ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, including RacingNews365, which published his comments on 24 September. He has now been recovering for almost six weeks.

The injury occurred during training over the summer break. As a result, Hadjar missed the Dutch, Italian and Spanish Grands Prix. Liam Lawson took his place at Red Bull; Yuki Tsunoda occupied the seat left vacant at Racing Bulls. His physical preparation was also restricted: Hadjar says he did virtually nothing with his left arm during training.

His confidence in his return rests partly on a successful simulator test. Hadjar describes the conditions in the simulator as virtually identical to those in the cockpit and believes his wrist is now strong enough to withstand the load. If driving in the simulator goes well, he expects to be able to manage on the track too. That is his own assessment ahead of the weekend.

Hadjar thinks adrenaline will help him on the track. Whether his wrist can cope with the entire race weekend without problems remains to be seen when he returns.

Source context

This report relies on a single publication by RacingNews365. The description of the injury and the wrist’s ability to withstand the load comes from Hadjar; no independent medical statement has been supplied.

Claims and supporting evidence 7

According to RacingNews365, Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar is returning during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend after a training injury over the summer break. As a result, he missed the Dutch, Italian and Spanish Grands Prix.

This finding from the source should be read within the scope and source context described. Return and cause: from the 2026 summer break to the build-up to the Azerbaijan GP, 24 September 2026. The publication describes his return ahead of the weekend, not a race already completed.

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Hadjar told media present ahead of the weekend, including RacingNews365, that he has a small fracture on the outside of his wrist. According to the driver, surgery was not needed and recovery takes time.

This finding from the source should be read within the scope and source context described. Nature of the injury and treatment: statement published on 24 September 2026. This is Hadjar’s own description, quoted directly by RacingNews365; no medical diagnosis has been supplied.

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Hadjar expects his wrist to remain painful for some time. He says he has now been recovering for almost six weeks and believes his wrist is currently strong enough to withstand the load.

This finding from the source should be read within the scope and source context described. Pain and expected ability to withstand the load: almost six weeks after the injury, ahead of Baku 2026. Almost six weeks does not establish an exact date for the injury. In the quoted answer, Hadjar does not say what the assessment of his wrist’s ability to withstand the load is based on; this must not be presented as independent medical clearance.

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Hadjar says a simulator test went well. He considers the simulator environment virtually identical to the cockpit.

This finding from the source should be read within the scope and source context described. Simulator test: preparation for the 2026 Azerbaijan GP. Both the positive assessment of the test and the comparison with the cockpit come from Hadjar. The source gives no test duration, load measurements or medical test result.

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Hadjar expects to be able to drive on the track if things go well in the simulator, and thinks adrenaline will help.

This finding from the source should be read within the scope and source context described. Expectation about driving on the track: looking ahead to his return in Baku, September 2026. This is a conditional expectation expressed by the driver, not proof that he can complete the entire race weekend without problems.

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Hadjar says he did virtually nothing with his left arm during training. As a result, he found that training period unenjoyable and somewhat boring.

This finding from the source should be read within the scope and source context described. Restrictions during preparation: the recovery period ahead of his return in September 2026. The statement does not include a full training schedule and does not make clear which exercises he was still doing.

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According to RacingNews365, Liam Lawson replaced Hadjar in the Red Bull RB22. Yuki Tsunoda took the place this left vacant at Racing Bulls.

This finding from the source should be read within the scope and source context described. Replacements during his absence: Hadjar’s absence from three Grands Prix after the 2026 summer break. The publication gives no individual race results for these replacements.

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This article was produced with AI assistance. Source references make its supporting evidence traceable.