Red Bull Racing has confirmed that, for the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, the team will field Jack Lawson in place of Isack Hadjar, with Yuki Tsunoda continuing to substitute for the team’s primary drivers. The decision, announced by the team on the Formula 1 website, follows a similar move earlier in the season when Lawson replaced Hadjar at the Austrian Grand Prix. The switch is part of Red Bull’s strategy to give its reserve driver more track time while keeping the main lineup stable for the championship battle.
Lawson, who has been on the team’s reserve list since 2022, will drive the RB19 in Monza. The 22‑year‑old British driver has already made a name for himself in the junior ranks, winning the 2021 FIA Formula 3 Championship and finishing on the podium in the 2022 FIA Formula 2 season. Red Bull’s decision to use him at Monza is seen as a way to test his readiness for a full‑time seat in the future, while also ensuring that the team can field a competitive car in the event of any unforeseen circumstances.
Hadjar, who has been the team’s test and reserve driver since 2021, will remain on standby for the race weekend. He has previously filled in for Red Bull’s senior drivers at the Austrian Grand Prix, where he drove the RB18 to a respectable 14th‑place finish. The team’s management has indicated that Hadjar’s role will continue to be primarily as a backup, with Lawson gaining the bulk of the race‑day experience.
For Indian fans, the Monza Grand Prix will begin at 3:00 PM IST, with live coverage available on FanCode. The race is scheduled to start at 10:00 AM local time in Italy, and the live stream will be accessible to Indian viewers from 3:00 PM IST onwards. Red Bull’s strategy to rotate reserve drivers is expected to keep the team’s performance sharp as the championship approaches its final stages.
Source: Formula1.com
