Liam Lawson will drive for Oracle Red Bull Racing at this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix, stepping in for the injured Isack Hadjar at Zandvoort, the circuit where Lawson made his Formula One debut three years ago.
Visa Cash App Racing Bulls confirmed the change on Wednesday, with Hadjar ruled out due to a wrist injury. Lawson will therefore move across to Red Bull for the weekend, while reserve driver Yuki Tsunoda will take his place at Racing Bulls alongside Arvid Lindblad.
The circumstances give Lawson’s Zandvoort appearance an interesting sense of déjà vu.
It was at the Dutch circuit in 2023 that the New Zealander was unexpectedly handed his Formula One debut, replacing Daniel Ricciardo at AlphaTauri after the Australian suffered a broken hand during practice.
Now, three years later, Lawson once again heads into Zandvoort as a stand-in, this time with Red Bull.
The opportunity puts Lawson alongside Max Verstappen for the Dutch Grand Prix and gives him another chance behind the wheel of the senior Red Bull car.
For Hadjar, the injury means missing a circuit that carries particular significance in his young Formula One career. Zandvoort was the scene of his maiden F1 podium in 2025, when he finished third.
Red Bull had also unveiled a special Delft Blue-inspired helmet and racewear for Hadjar ahead of this weekend, with the design paying tribute to that breakthrough podium.
The driver change also brings Tsunoda back onto the grid with Racing Bulls. The team confirmed that its reserve driver will partner Lindblad for the weekend as Lawson moves across to Red Bull.
In its statement, Racing Bulls thanked Lawson and Tsunoda for their adaptability as both teams prepare for the Dutch Grand Prix and wished Hadjar a speedy recovery.
For Lawson, though, the setting could hardly be more fitting: the circuit where his Formula One story began will now host another unexpected chapter three years later.
