Right, so Isack Hadjar is finally back. The Red Bull driver's been sidelined for three rounds after fracturing his wrist during a boxing session over the summer break. He's missed the Dutch Grand Prix, Italian Grand Prix, and Spanish Grand Prix, but he's cleared to return at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix this weekend. Liam Lawson's been filling in for him brilliantly at Racing Bulls, but now it's time for Hadjar to shake off the rust and prove he's ready to fight again at the Baku City Circuit.

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Here's the twist though, the Azerbaijan GP is getting moved to Saturday. Yeah, you read that right. F1 and the FIA agreed to shift the entire weekend forward by a day because September 27 is a national day of mourning. So practice happens Thursday, qualifying Friday, and the race goes down on Saturday. It's the first time in F1 history that Baku gets raced on a Saturday, which is pretty mental when you think about it. This is the kind of schedule shake-up that can throw everyone off, so we'll see how the drivers adapt.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli's absolutely flying right now with Mercedes. The Italian's on 81 points clear at the top with nine wins already from just 15 rounds. He dominated the Spanish Grand Prix at the Madring last time out, capitalizing when a virtual safety car cost Lando Norris what could've been the win. The Mercedes energy management strategy is basically untouchable at the moment, which is why the experts reckon Antonelli's the favorite to grab pole and the win in Baku.

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But Max Verstappen's got some believers too. The Red Bull ace's been on a run with back-to-back podiums, and the RBPT engine is genuinely impressive on the straights. Baku's all about that long main straight, so the Red Bull's combustion engine might just be the difference maker when every tenth counts on energy management. Verstappen won here last year from pole, so he's definitely got the pace and the knowledge to challenge Antonelli.

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As for Hadjar's comeback, the big question is how quickly he'll slot back into the rhythm. A month out is no joke, and Baku's a street circuit that demands precision and confidence. The experts are focused on whether he can get comfortable straight away or if he'll need a round or two to shake off the ring rust. One thing's for certain, though, it'll be good to see the 21-year-old back in the car and pushing hard again.

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