Red Bull keeps same lineup for Italian GP: Lawson continues to replace Hadjar, Tsunoda returns to VCARB

Red Bull has confirmed it will field an unchanged driver lineup for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, with Liam Lawson continuing to replace the injured Isack Hadjar alongside Max Verstappen. The decision follows Hadjar's incomplete recovery from the injury sustained during the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, where Lawson made his debut in the RB22 and finished an impressive seventh, staying close to Verstappen in one-lap pace. At the sister team Racing Bulls, Yuki Tsunoda returns to the VCARB 03, replacing Lawson who was promoted to the senior team. Rookie Arvid Lindblad retains his seat at Racing Bulls, while reserve driver Ayumu Iwasa will replace Verstappen in the first practice session to fulfill one of the team's four mandated rookie FP1 sessions per season. Hadjar's absence is not only a physical setback but also a career momentum loss for the 22-year-old French driver. Every lap Lawson completes in the RB22 accumulates comparative data, and Hadjar is gradually losing ground in Red Bull's internal rankings. Lawson has seized his rare opportunity: finishing seventh in his first race at a high-downforce circuit like Zandvoort, and now facing a completely different challenge at Monza – the lowest-downforce track on the calendar, where top speed and DRS efficiency are critical. Lawson's ability to adapt to the low-drag package will be a key test, not only for this race but for the entire evaluation process by the team. Racing Bulls has its own story. Tsunoda, repeatedly passed over for promotion to Red Bull, once again proves his role as a reliable utility player. He finished 11th at Zandvoort, just outside the points, a result that reflects the VCARB 03's midfield position. Returning Tsunoda to a car he knows well is a safe and logical move, but it also serves as a reminder that he remains a stopgap, not the team's long-term future. Meanwhile, Lindblad, a rookie, is being prioritized for development – a strong signal that Red Bull's junior program believes in the Swedish driver's potential. Iwasa's FP1 appearance carries strategic significance. Selecting another Japanese driver beyond Tsunoda indicates Red Bull's expanding focus on the Japanese market, where the team has historical ties to Honda. Iwasa is not just fulfilling a regulation; he is undergoing a real audition, collecting comparative data against Verstappen, and if he performs well, he could enter the list of potential candidates for future race seats. From a competitive standpoint, Red Bull is leveraging the structural advantage of its two-team system, which no other team on the grid possesses. They can absorb an injury without compromising overall strength, and even turn it into a talent evaluation opportunity. However, the biggest question remains: if Lawson continues to impress at Monza, can Red Bull retain him against poaching from rival teams? A young, fast driver who can run close to Verstappen will be a prime target in the 2027 driver market. The Austrian team will face a difficult decision: either promote Lawson to a permanent seat or risk losing him. For Hadjar, time is running out. Every race he misses is a race where Lawson scores points in the management's eyes. The cautious recovery approach is understandable, but the competitive consequences are unavoidable. Monza will be a test not only for Lawson but for the entire Red Bull development system. If Lawson succeeds, the narrative will shift from 'Hadjar injured' to 'Lawson has taken the seat'. That is a semantic shift that both the team and fans will have to confront.