Red Bull Racing has officially confirmed that Isack Hadjar will stay alongside Max Verstappen as his teammate for the 2027 Formula One campaign. The French driver, who joined the senior team at the beginning of the current season after a standout debut with the junior outfit Racing Bulls in 2025, missed the last three Grands Prix because of a wrist injury sustained during a summer training session. He is now declared fit and will return to the grid at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix this weekend, an event that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1. The announcement comes shortly after Red Bull disclosed that four‑time world champion Max Verstappen has signed a fresh contract that ties him to the team until at least the close of the 2030 season.
Team principal Laurent Mekies praised Hadjar, saying, "We are thrilled to continue our journey with Isack. Since he arrived at the start of the year, he has been outstanding both on‑track and off‑track, especially given that this is only his second year in Formula 1.
Extending his deal was therefore an easy decision." Mekies added that Hadjar immersed himself in the team from day one, spending countless hours in the Milton Keynes factory working closely with his engineers to develop the car, always eager to learn and improve. "You could see from his debut weekend in Melbourne that he handled the step up with remarkable composure and earned his place in this seat," Mekies noted. The second seat at Red Bull is widely regarded as the most demanding on the grid.
Former teammates such as Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda have all struggled to match Verstappen's pace, and the role has a reputation for rapid turnover. Hadjar, however, has shown a closer performance gap to the Dutch champion than many of his predecessors and even managed to out‑qualify or out‑race Verstappen on a few occasions this season, reducing any speculation about his future. Despite being sidelined for the last three rounds, Hadjar remains eighth in the Drivers' Championship and reclaimed a podium finish at the Monaco Grand Prix after Red Bull and McLaren successfully appealed a penalty that had originally stripped Pierre Gasly of his result.
Mekies emphasized that the period following the injury was challenging for Hadjar, but the new contract demonstrates the team's confidence in his abilities. "We still have a lot we want to achieve this season, but it feels great to know that drivers, engineers and everyone at the factory are moving in the same direction, united and committed," he said. Sky Sports F1 analyst Craig Slater explained the nature of Hadjar's injury: "He hurt his arm and wrist by hitting a heavy bag during his boxing training.
He has now recovered, will race this weekend, and will be Verstappen's partner in 2027. Liam Lawson performed admirably as his stand‑in, but no one was surprised that the team kept Hadjar. He has probably been Verstappen's most competitive teammate since Daniel Ricciardo left the squad." Hadjar himself expressed enthusiasm about staying with Oracle Red Bull Racing: "I am extremely excited to continue with this team. I joined eight months ago and immediately grasped the scale and ambition of the operation.
There are so many talented people at the factory, and it is a privilege to drive for such an incredible organisation alongside a four‑time world champion like Max. From the moment I signed, I committed myself to the team, and with the support of Laurent and everyone in Milton Keynes, I have been able to justify the faith they placed in me.
I am constantly listening, learning and pushing myself further every day as we look ahead." The top four teams—Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull—have all locked in their driver line‑ups for 2027 with no changes expected. Alpine, Williams and the new Cadillac entry have also secured their 2027 drivers, while Audi plans to retain Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hülkenberg.
This leaves Racing Bulls, Haas and Aston Martin as the only constructors still finalising their driver rosters for the next season, meaning there could still be movement in the market. Aston Martin's situation is particularly fluid because Fernando Alonso is contemplating his future.
If the two‑time champion decides to retire, Aston Martin will have a coveted seat to fill. Alonso has hinted that a decision will not come soon, expressing dissatisfaction with the current regulations and prompting FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem to comment on the need to accelerate the development of Aston Martin's engine partner, Honda.
In the midfield, Britain's Oliver Bearman appears set to remain at Haas, while his teammate Esteban Ocon is looking ahead after a difficult start to the season. Haas may also consider promoting Ferrari junior Rafael Camara to his Formula 1 debut in 2027 after his impressive Formula 2 campaign in Brazil. Red Bull's own junior programme continues to produce talent; the current F2 championship leader is Red Bull junior Nikola Tsolov, and the team has a history of promoting promising youngsters as soon as possible. However, Red Bull faces a delicate decision because both of its current Racing Bulls drivers—Arvid Lindblad and Liam Lawson—are delivering strong performances this year.
Dropping either would be a harsh move, and the team will need to balance nurturing new talent with retaining proven performers. The upcoming race weekend in Baku features a packed schedule: Thursday, September 24, includes F2 practice sessions, the Azerbaijan GP practice one, and a team bosses' press conference.
Friday, September 25, hosts F2 sprint, the third practice session, F2 feature race, and the Grand Prix qualifying. Saturday, September 26, sees the second F2 feature race, the Grand Prix itself, and post‑race analysis. All sessions will also be streamed live on Sky Sports Main Event.
The 2026 Formula 1 season continues to unfold live on Sky Sports F1, with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix kicking off a triple‑header of races. Fans can stream the coverage via NOW, with no long‑term contract required and the option to cancel at any time.