Isack Hadjar’s decision to withdraw from the Dutch GP due to a wrist injury has been interpreted as an act of confidence, according to former Red Bull mechanic Calum Nicholas.
Hadjar, who has had an impressive start to the 2026 season alongside Max Verstappen, chose not to compete during the Zandvoort weekend due to his injury. This allowed Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls driver, to take his seat at the last moment.
Lawson managed to finish in seventh place during a race marked by a chaotic start, which saw Verstappen exit the competition on the first lap.
In a recent episode of the podcast Talking Bull, Nicholas praised Hadjar’s decision to abstain. ‘Taking a week as a precaution to ensure he is ready for the rest of the season really shows the confidence he has had all year,’ he explained.
Hadjar has been a standout driver and his decision to stop for recovery is seen as a clear display of maturity and self-sufficiency. Nicholas highlighted: ‘He has been doing an amazing job. It’s a true sign of confidence to be able to say ‘I’m not at 100%, so I’ll take this week as a precaution’.
It has not yet been confirmed whether Hadjar will return to drive in the Italian GP at Monza from September 4 to 6, but he was present in Zandvoort. Team principal Laurent Mekies commented: ‘We have Isack with us, even though he couldn’t drive. He was with the team to learn and ensure we can move forward together strongly next week in Monza.’
Currently, Hadjar is in eighth place in the drivers’ championship with 68 points, while Verstappen is sixth with 112 points.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
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