Red Bull reshuffles lineup: Lawson replaces Hadjar, Tsunoda returns to Racing Bulls

A wrist injury to Isack Hadjar forced Red Bull to activate its contingency plan just before the Italian Grand Prix. Liam Lawson – who impressed at Zandvoort with a P7 finish – has been promoted to the main team to replace Hadjar, while Yuki Tsunoda is moved back to Racing Bulls to fill the vacancy. This shuffle highlights the depth of Red Bull’s driver pool, but also raises questions about Hadjar’s future. Hadjar was injured during a boxing training session, a rare accident but serious enough for the medical staff to make a cautious decision. According to an official Red Bull Racing announcement, keeping Hadjar out of Monza is a priority for a full recovery, avoiding any risk of recurrence. This decision reflects the Austrian team’s risk-management philosophy: never put a young driver in harm’s way for a single race. Lawson, the 22-year-old New Zealander, had an impressive debut when he replaced Hadjar at Racing Bulls in the Netherlands. Starting from P8, he finished P7, gaining one position – a result far beyond expectations for a reserve driver. More importantly, Lawson showed an ability to adapt quickly to the RB20, despite limited practice time. Compared to teammate Max Verstappen, Lawson was quite close in one-lap pace, an encouraging sign. Tsunoda, who was previously demoted to Racing Bulls after losing his Red Bull seat, is now called back to replace Lawson. But this is essentially temporary: Tsunoda will drive the Racing Bulls at Monza, while Lawson drives the Red Bull. This seamless swap reflects a well-rehearsed contingency process within Red Bull’s driver development system. They have four contracted drivers at the top level: Hadjar, Lawson, Tsunoda, and Arvid Lindblad – all available at short notice. Lindblad, the 16-year-old English talent, is also promoted to Racing Bulls from the junior team, marking a huge step in his career. Although he has no F1 experience, being placed in a race seat at Monza is a golden opportunity. However, this also shows that Red Bull is using a cascade of replacements, where each driver must prove his worth under the harshest conditions. Tactically, this change does not alter the competitive order at Monza. Red Bull remains the favorite to win with Verstappen, who leads the championship. Racing Bulls remain in the midfield, and having Tsunoda – who knows the team well – will help them maintain stability. But the bigger question is not about Monza, but about the long-term future. Hadjar, 21, is having an impressive Formula 2 season, and this injury comes at the worst possible time. He is competing for a full-time seat at Red Bull or Racing Bulls in 2026. Sitting out at least one race, possibly more if recovery is slow, will cost him momentum and give Lawson an opening. Lawson is currently the most highly rated reserve, and if he continues to perform well at Monza, he could leapfrog in the pecking order. Another perspective: Red Bull’s flexibility shows they understand the importance of a robust backup system. While many other teams have only a single reserve driver, Red Bull has a whole stable of young drivers who can be ready in days. This not only mitigates sporting risk but also creates a major competitive advantage in personnel management. But this surplus of talent also carries a risk: if not promoted in time, drivers like Lawson or Tsunoda may leave the system to seek opportunities elsewhere. At Monza, all eyes will be on Lawson – the first time he drives for the senior team in a race. He will face enormous pressure: direct comparison with Verstappen, expectations to score points, and evaluation as a potential 2026 candidate. If Lawson continues his Zandvoort form, Red Bull management will have to seriously consider replacing Sergio Perez in the future – who remains inconsistent and disappointing. Hadjar’s injury also highlights another reality: F1 drivers do not only face risks on track. Ancillary physical activities, like boxing, can bring fitness benefits but also carry unnecessary injury risks. Hadjar being hurt in such a session is a reminder that a driver’s life is full of unpredictable variables. However, Red Bull’s handling of the situation – calm, professional, and systematic – shows they are prepared for every scenario. Looking ahead, if Hadjar misses more than one race, Red Bull will have to rethink his development plan. Lawson could be given an extended run at Racing Bulls or even Red Bull, creating fierce internal competition. Meanwhile, Tsunoda will have to prove he still has value to the system, even though reserve status is not what he wants. This temporary reshuffle reveals a difficult personnel puzzle that Red Bull will have to solve in the coming months. Monza has a history of unpredictability, with surprises happening regularly. Lawson will have a chance to write his own story, and if he does, the 2026 driver market picture could shift significantly. Red Bull has successfully extinguished the immediate crisis, but the simmering fire of young talent futures remains. The question is not whether Hadjar will recover, but whether Red Bull’s elite system can retain all its jewels or will be forced to trade some away.