Red Bull Racing has officially confirmed that Isack Hadjar will stay alongside Max Verstappen as his teammate for the 2027 Formula 1 campaign. The French driver, who was promoted to the senior team at the beginning of the current season after a standout debut with Racing Bulls in 2025, missed the last three Grands Prix because of a wrist injury sustained during a summer training session. He is now cleared to race and will line up for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix this weekend, broadcast live on Sky Sports F1.
The announcement comes on the heels of Red Bull’s earlier statement that four‑time world champion Max Verstappen has extended his contract to remain with the team until at least the close of 2030. Team principal Laurent Mekies praised Hadjar’s progress, saying, “We are thrilled to continue our journey with Isack.
Since he joined us at the start of the year, he has been outstanding both on‑track and off‑track, especially given that this is only his second season in Formula 1. Extending his contract was therefore an easy decision.” Mekies added that Hadjar immersed himself in the team culture from day one, spending countless hours in the Milton Keynes factory working side‑by‑side with his engineers to develop the car. “He approached every minute with a hunger to learn and improve,” Mekies noted.
“You could see from his debut weekend in Melbourne that he handled the step up with remarkable composure and quickly earned his place in the seat.” The second Red Bull seat is widely regarded as the most demanding on the grid. Former occupants such as Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda have all struggled to match Verstappen’s pace. Hadjar, however, has shown a closer performance gap to the Dutch champion than many of his predecessors.
On several occasions this season he has even out‑qualified or out‑finished Verstappen, reinforcing Red Bull’s confidence in his abilities and keeping his seat free from serious scrutiny. Despite missing the final three rounds because of his wrist injury, Hadjar remains eighth in the Drivers’ Championship. He also 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 remarked, “The period since his injury has been tough for Isack, but this extension demonstrates how much we believe in his talent. We can’t wait to see him back on track.” Sky Sports F1 analyst Craig Slater explained the nature of Hadjar’s injury: “He injured his arm and wrist after hitting a heavy bag during boxing training. He’s now recovered, will race this weekend, and will partner Max in 2027. Liam Lawson performed admirably in his absence, but no one was surprised that Hadjar earned the nod.
He’s probably been Verstappen’s most competitive teammate since Daniel Ricciardo left.” Hadjar himself expressed enthusiasm about the renewed commitment: “I’m extremely excited to continue with Oracle Red Bull Racing. I joined eight months ago and immediately grasped the scale and ambition of this operation. The team is filled with incredibly talented people, and it’s a privilege to drive for such a historic outfit alongside a four‑time champion like Max.
From the moment I signed, I pledged to give everything to the team, and with the support of Laurent and the whole Milton Keynes crew, I’ve been able to justify the faith they placed in me. Every day I strive to listen, learn and push my limits further.” The driver market for 2027 is largely settled among the sport’s elite teams. Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull have all locked in their line‑ups, leaving Alpine, Williams and Cadillac also under contract for the next season. Audi will retain its pairing of Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg.
The only remaining slots are at Racing Bulls, Haas and Aston Martin, where changes may still occur. Aston Martin’s situation is particularly fluid because Fernando Alonso is contemplating his future. If Alonso decides to retire, a coveted seat could open up at the team. Alonso has hinted that a decision won’t come soon, citing dissatisfaction with the current regulations.
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has even suggested accelerating the resolution of Aston Martin’s engine supply issues with Honda. At Haas, Britain’s Oliver Bearman is expected to stay, while his teammate Esteban Ocon is still searching for a long‑term home after a rocky start to the season. Haas might also give a debut to Ferrari junior Rafael Camara for 2027, following his impressive Formula 2 campaign. Meanwhile, Red Bull’s junior program continues to produce talent; Nikola Tsolov leads the F2 championship and is widely tipped for a future F1 seat.
Red Bull now faces a delicate decision, as both Racing Bulls drivers Arvid Lindblad and Liam Lawson are delivering strong performances, making the prospect of dropping one of them a difficult choice. The upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend schedule is packed with action: - Thursday, 24 September – F2 practice, qualifying and the team bosses’ press conference. - Friday, 25 September – F2 sprint, F2 feature race, and the F1 qualifying session for the Grand Prix.
- Saturday, 26 September – F2 feature race 2, followed by the Grand Prix itself at midday, with post‑race analysis and commentary throughout the afternoon. All sessions will be streamed live on Sky Sports Main Event, with the option to watch via NOW without a long‑term contract. The 2026 Formula 1 season continues to deliver high‑octane excitement, and the confirmed driver line‑ups set the stage for another year of intense competition on the world’s premier racing circuits.