Isack Hadjar’s decision to withdraw from the Dutch Grand Prix due to a wrist injury was a “sign of confidence,” not weakness, according to former Red Bull mechanic Calum Nicholas.
Hadjar, who has impressed in his debut season alongside four-time champion Max Verstappen, chose to step aside for Zandvoort after sustaining the injury, allowing Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson to fill in and secure a strong seventh-place finish. Verstappen crashed out on the opening lap.
Speaking on the Talking Bull podcast, Nicholas praised Hadjar’s mature approach: “To take the week out as a precaution to make sure that he was fit for the rest of the season actually shows the confidence that he’s had all year. He’s been doing an incredible job… It’s a real sign of the confidence that he’s got to be able to just say, ‘Look, I’m not 100%. I’m going to take this week out as a precaution.'”
Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies confirmed Hadjar’s continued involvement, saying, “He was with the team trying to take the learning and make sure we can push all together as strongly as we can next week in Monza.”
Hadjar, who sits eighth in the drivers’ championship with 68 points, is expected to return for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza as he continues an impressive rookie campaign.
