Marc Marquez reveals Hadjar advice that prompted Dutch GP absence

Isack Hadjar's decision to sit out the Dutch Grand Prix came after a direct conversation with nine-time MotoGP champion Marc Marquez, who urged the Red Bull driver to prioritize recovery over racing with a wrist injury sustained in the gym.

Why it matters:

Hadjar was initially determined to race at Zandvoort, but Marquez's counsel — rooted in his own career-altering mistake — helped change that. The advice carries extra weight for a young driver with a long future in F1, and highlights how mental resilience sometimes means knowing when not to race.

The details:

• Hadjar hurt his wrist during a gym session in the build-up to Zandvoort and was keen to push through the pain.
• He consulted Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies and Marquez, a former Red Bull athlete, before making the call to stand down.
• Talking from experience: Marquez's 2020 Jerez highside left him with a serious arm injury. He attempted a comeback days later at the Andalusian Grand Prix, but the strain compromised the plate in his arm.
  • He withdrew mid-weekend, missed the rest of the season, and eventually needed a fourth operation in 2022.
• His words: "Missing one race will not change your life. Missing, or worsening your injury because you ride too early, can change your life."
• With Hadjar absent, Liam Lawson was promoted from Racing Bulls to Red Bull, while Arvid Lindblad stepped up at the sister team.

What's next:

Hadjar's fitness for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza next weekend is uncertain. If he isn't cleared to race, Red Bull and Racing Bulls will carry over the Dutch Grand Prix driver pairings.