Isack Hadjar to Sit Out Third F1 Race in Madrid as Yuki Tsunoda Returns

Madrid, Spain – Isack Hadjar will not participate in the Formula 1 race in Madrid this weekend, marking his third consecutive absence due to a wrist injury. Liam Lawson will return to the RB22 to partner Max Verstappen at Red Bull, while Yuki Tsunoda continues to race for Racing Bulls. The information was confirmed by Red Bull on Monday evening, opening a turbulent week ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix. The notable context: the 2026 Madrid race is not just an ordinary race. This is the first season of an entirely new technical regulation cycle, with redesigned power units and chassis. Every team is in a learning phase, optimizing their cars lap by lap. In this context, the prolonged absence of a regular driver—who has accumulated hundreds of laps and setup data—is a loss that cannot be quantified by numbers. The real shock lies in the team structure. Red Bull chose to recall Liam Lawson, who had a brief stint at the main team in 2026 before being replaced by Tsunoda. The fact that Lawson was brought back, rather than giving the opportunity to Tsunoda—who has performed consistently at Racing Bulls for years—exposes an underlying truth about how Red Bull evaluates drivers. Lawson is preferred over Tsunoda in the eyes of team management, despite Tsunoda having outperformed Lawson in previous direct comparisons. Lawson's return opens a three-dimensional risk puzzle. First, Hadjar—the young driver expected to be Verstappen's long-term teammate—faces the risk of losing his seat if Lawson performs well in the three races he misses. Second, Lawson has three races to prove he deserves a permanent seat, turning this period into the most stressful trial of his career. Third, Tsunoda is once again overlooked, continuing the 'almost' narrative that has persisted for years—a symbol of wasted talent in Red Bull's junior driver ecosystem. From a technical perspective, Hadjar's absence for three consecutive races in the 2026 season is particularly costly. Unlike stable seasons, where driver replacement is a minor disruption, this season sees the entire grid adapting to new active aerodynamics and new engines. Continuity in driver feedback becomes a crucial factor in optimizing car setup. Lawson brings his own experience, but he lacks the accumulated mileage and setup history on the RB22—a gap that Hadjar's absence leaves difficult to fill completely, even though he will still be present in Madrid to support the team from an engineering standpoint. Notably, the second Racing Bulls seat remains vacant. The article does not name the replacement driver for Hadjar at the satellite team, indicating a significant information gap. Red Bull will likely promote a young driver from its academy, possibly Ayumu Iwasa, but this remains speculation. Racing Bulls having to run with an unconfirmed substitute driver amidst a fierce midfield battle could impact the team's points-scoring capacity over the summer break, turning this period into a strategic challenge for both Red Bull-owned teams. Hadjar's absence also raises questions about FIA medical procedures and clearance standards. The French driver not being cleared to drive after three races suggests the wrist injury may be more severe than initially announced. The phrase 'recovery continues to progress positively' used by Red Bull is a familiar communication formula, both reassuring fans and committing to no specific return date. The absence of a clear timeline indicates either genuine uncertainty from the medical team or a deliberate decision to keep all options open—including the possibility of extending Lawson's trial period. On the competitive front, Red Bull is entering the new regulation cycle with instability in the second seat. In a season where every team is struggling to understand their car, having a substitute driver for three races is a competitive disadvantage—not because Lawson is necessarily slower, but because the Verstappen-Lawson pairing lacks the cohesion and setup continuity that a settled lineup provides. Red Bull's rivals, with lineups confirmed from the start of the season, are gaining a relative advantage during this sensitive period. For Lawson personally, this is a golden opportunity but also a double-edged sword. If he performs well against Verstappen—the toughest benchmark in F1—he can strengthen his case for a permanent seat. If he struggles, as he did during his brief 2026 Red Bull stint, his career could suffer permanent damage. The memory of two disastrous races at Red Bull last year remains vivid, and the psychological pressure now is even greater. As for Tsunoda, everything is clearer than ever. Red Bull once again choosing another driver for the main seat instead of him is the strongest signal yet that Tsunoda may never be promoted to Red Bull. With proven talent over multiple seasons, Tsunoda may begin considering other options when his contract allows. Patience has limits, and what is happening in Madrid could be the last straw. As the Madrid race unfolds this weekend, all eyes will be on two dark red cars. Can Lawson seize this rare opportunity? How will Tsunoda react to the harsh reality? And what will Hadjar think as he watches his teammate battle in the car he yearns for? These questions have no immediate answers, but they will certainly shape the driver market dynamics for the rest of the 2026 season.