Liam Lawson is set for a historic return to Sky Sports at this weekend’s Nzherald, stepping in as a temporary replacement for the injured Isack Hadjar. According to Formula1.com, the move marks the first time in Red Bull’s 22-year history in Formula 1 that the six-time World Championship-winning team has recalled a driver they previously parted ways with, as demoted or fired drivers typically do not get a second chance at the factory team.
Liam Lawson Returns to Red Bull in Historic F1 Recall
Hadjar, a French-Algerian driver who sits eighth in the drivers’ championship with 68 points, was ruled out of the 12th round of the season after suffering a wrist fracture during the summer break. Sky Sports reported that the injury occurred while Hadjar was doing boxing drills and punching a sandbag as part of his training regimen. The Italian Grand Prix at Monza is scheduled two weeks after the Zandvoort event.
For Lawson, 24, the promotion is a rapid turnaround after he was dropped by Red Bull just two races into the 2025 season following his initial off-season appointment. He was replaced at the time by Yuki Tsunoda, who finished out the campaign alongside four-time world champion Max Verstappen. Lawson previously made his Formula 1 debut at Zandvoort in 2023, replacing Daniel Ricciardo at AlphaTauri after the Australian suffered a broken wrist.
Weighing the Risks and Rewards in Zandvoort
Stepping into the Red Bull RB22 alongside Verstappen on a sprint weekend with only one practice session presents significant challenges for Lawson, who has never driven the car. Verstappen has consistently dominated his teammates and previously finished Tsunoda’s career at the sport’s highest level. Furthermore, Lawson’s reputation was damaged by his two races in Australia and China last year, where internal team voices questioned his mental toughness.
However, the temporary promotion offers major upside. If Lawson can mirror Hadjar’s consistent points-scoring performance and finish ahead of the Racing Bulls in the points while making Q3, his stock in the F1 driver market will rise. According to Nzherald.co.nz, a strong showing could place his name back into conversations at Red Bull should Verstappen depart, while enhancing a 2026 season where he has already established himself as the leading driver outside the top-four teams with six points finishes in his last seven events with Racing Bulls.
Yuki Tsunoda and Arvid Lindblad Step Up at Racing Bulls
With Lawson moving up to the senior team, former Red Bull driver Yuki Tsunoda, 26, will fill Lawson’s seat at RNZ alongside British-Swedish rookie Arvid Lindblad. Tsunoda lost his full-time drive at the end of last season and has spent this year serving as test and reserve driver for both Red Bull and Racing Bulls.
The unexpected grid return provides Tsunoda with a crucial opportunity to put himself in the shop window for a full-time 2027 seat, having previously been linked with Haas. Racing Bulls and Red Bull management commended both Lawson and Tsunoda for their adaptability as the teams prepared on short notice for the sprint weekend at Zandvoort.
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