Isack Hadjar Enjoys F1 Return Despite Grid Penalty at Malaysian Grand Prix

Isack Hadjar is back in the Formula 1 paddock, and the Red Bull driver is wasting no time making his presence felt. After a fractured wrist sidelined him for six weeks, the 21-year-old Frenchman stormed back to qualify third fastest for the Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang.[1][5]

The blistering one-lap pace will not translate to a front-row start, however. Red Bull elected to fit Hadjar's RB22 with a seventh internal combustion engine for the weekend, triggering an automatic five-place grid penalty that drops him to eighth.[1]

"It's a bit unfortunate we take the penalty on the track where we're that fast," Hadjar said following the session. "But from eighth, hopefully we can go through the field and come back for a good result."[1]

The immediate speed proves his recovery is complete. Just one race prior, at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku, Hadjar secured a third-place podium finish in his first weekend back in the cockpit.[1][5]

The injury that derailed his late-summer momentum occurred far from the circuit. During the sport's August shutdown, Hadjar suffered a small fracture on the outside of his wrist while boxing.[2][4]

He kept the exact nature of the training incident quiet for several weeks before confirming the details to the media in Baku. "Hopefully I use a bit more my brain when I go boxing next time," he joked with reporters.[2]

The layoff forced Hadjar to miss the Dutch, Italian, and Madrid Grands Prix. Sitting on the sidelines during a critical development phase of the 2026 season tested his patience and stalled his championship momentum.[2]

"I felt like I had, like, a whole winter break, which is not really what you want in the middle of the season," Hadjar admitted. "So, yeah, I definitely missed it."[2]

His absence triggered a high-stakes driver shuffle across the Red Bull program. Liam Lawson was promoted from Racing Bulls to fill Hadjar's seat at the senior team, stepping into a massive pressure cooker for three rounds.[3]

In turn, Yuki Tsunoda made a surprise return to the Racing Bulls lineup to cover Lawson's vacancy. The temporary moves forced the substitute drivers to fight for their long-term futures while Hadjar watched from home.[3]

Now back in control of his own destiny, Hadjar is relishing the sheer speed of the Red Bull machinery. He noted that even on a qualifying lap where he felt grip and power issues, the car still delivered a top-three time.[1]

"It's the first time in my life that I actually feel like we do a terrible job and we're third, so that's the perks of having a very good car," he said. "I won't lie, it's very satisfying."[1]

The physical demands of the Sepang circuit will severely test his recovering wrist over a full race distance. Track temperatures in Malaysia are notoriously high, and the 2026 generation of Formula 1 cars requires immense steering effort in high-speed corners.[1]

Overtaking will also prove challenging in the turbulent aerodynamic wake of the leading pack. Hadjar acknowledged that raw pace alone will not be enough to secure a second consecutive podium finish.[1]

"It's going to be so difficult to overtake on just raw pace and having to go for it on a track like that," he explained. "All the temperatures are through the roof, and following cars is going to be difficult."[1]

Instead, Red Bull will rely heavily on tire management and pit-wall strategy to move him forward. The team hopes to leverage their straight-line speed advantage to pick off rivals in the DRS zones.[1]

For Hadjar, the Malaysian weekend is about reclaiming his rhythm and enjoying the fight. After weeks of watching his seat being kept warm by someone else, the prospect of battling through the pack is exactly what he wants.[1][3]

"I think the only way is just, you know, be smart with the strategy, as clean as we can, and just go for it," Hadjar concluded. "It's going to be fun."[1]