Wednesday was busy in Formula 1 on the eve of the Dutch GP. Isack Hadjar became a last-minute absentee for Red Bull, Liam Lawson was called to replace him, and Yuki Tsunoda got an unexpected opportunity to return to the grid, while Carlos Sainz ended speculation about his future by renewing with Williams.
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Hadjar suffered a wrist injury during the summer break and will not be able to race in Zandvoort. Red Bull put Lawson in the RB22, which opened a spot at Racing Bulls. As a result, Tsunoda temporarily leaves the reserve role and competes in the weekend alongside Arvid Lindblad. The change reorganizes the two teams right at the resumption of the championship.
Another important move happened at Williams. The team announced a multi-year contract with Sainz, securing the Spaniard’s stay after also confirming Alexander Albon for 2027. Sainz said he believes in the people, the investments, and the work done behind the scenes, while James Vowles highlighted his contribution on and off the track and described the duo formed with Albon as one of the strongest on the grid.
McLaren also drew attention by confirming an upgrade package for the Dutch GP. Oscar Piastri, in turn, made clear the goal for the second half of the championship: to compete for wins again. “I would love to be able to compete for wins again, like I did at Hungaroring,” said the Australian, adding that results of that level would allow the team to assess what it can still achieve in the championship.
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Max Verstappen also got into the Zandvoort spirit in a particularly important stage for the Dutchman. The driver highlighted the desire to put on a good show in front of his fans at the last Dutch GP, while his name continues to be linked to driver market moves alongside Fernando Alonso.
The day also featured Lewis Hamilton revealing he found his “Italian Bono” in Ferrari, referring to the relationship built within the new team, as well as Sergio Pérez highlighting the freedom he feels working on the Cadillac project. With the Dutch GP starting on Friday, off-track moves further increased the anticipation for the 12th round of the season.
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