Hadjar hopeful wrist will be ready for Monza

Red Bull's first question before Monza is a medical one rather than a technical one, as Isack Hadjar continues his recovery from the wrist injury which kept him out of the Dutch Grand Prix.

The Frenchman hurt the wrist while boxing during the summer break and travelled to Zandvoort without being able to race. Liam Lawson was moved across from Racing Bulls to partner Max Verstappen, while Yuki Tsunoda filled the vacancy at the second Red Bull team.

Hadjar remained with Red Bull during the weekend and appeared in a behind-the-scenes film wearing a brace. His account of the recovery was encouraging, although it stopped short of confirming that he will drive in Italy.

It's not swollen, which is very good, Hadjar said. Every day I have a bit more mobility and I'm hopeful for Monza.

Red Bull has not yet announced its Monza line-up. The team can wait until closer to Friday practice before making a decision, and it already has a tested contingency after Lawson finished seventh at Zandvoort.

The sensible calculation will be whether Hadjar can complete an entire weekend without worsening the injury. Monza is not the most physically punishing circuit on the calendar in terms of cornering load, but its heavy braking zones and kerb use place repeated demands on a driver's hands and wrists.

Hadjar described Zandvoort as the first injury-enforced absence of his career and said watching from the sidelines had been an uncomfortable experience. That frustration is understandable, but Red Bull has little reason to gamble with a problem that could become more disruptive if it is aggravated.