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 rookie year with the junior outfit Racing Bulls in 2025, missed the final three Grands Prix of 2026 because of a wrist injury sustained during a summer training session.
He is now fully recovered and will line‑up for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix this weekend, an event that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1. The announcement comes just weeks after Red Bull revealed that four‑time world champion Max Verstappen has extended his contract with the team until at least the end of 2030. Team principal Laurent Mekies praised Hadjar’s progress, stating, “We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Isack. Since joining us at the start of the year he has been exceptional both on‑track and off‑track, especially given that this is only his second season in Formula 1.
Extending his contract was therefore a straightforward decision.” Mekies added that Hadjar quickly immersed himself in the Red Bull operation, spending countless hours in the Milton Keynes factory working hand‑in‑hand with his engineers to fine‑tune the car. “From day one he showed an eagerness to learn and improve.
You could see during his debut weekend in Melbourne that he handled the step up with remarkable composure and earned his place in the seat,” the team boss said. 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. Hadjar, however, has already shown he can compete closely with the Dutch champion, even out‑qualifying or out‑performing him on a few occasions this season.
As a result, his position has not been the subject of intense speculation. Despite missing the last three race weekends, 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 the reversal of Pierre Gasly’s penalty for exceeding the speed limit in the pit lane. Mekies highlighted the difficulty of Hadjar’s recent injury period, noting that the contract extension demonstrates the team’s confidence in his long‑term potential.
“We still have a lot to achieve this season, but it is reassuring to know that drivers, engineers and everyone at the factory are moving in the same direction, fully committed and united,” he said. Sky Sports F1 commentator Craig Slater explained the circumstances of Hadjar’s injury: “He injured his wrist and forearm by striking a heavy bag during his boxing training – a routine part of his fitness regime.
He has now recovered and will be back for the Azerbaijan round, securing his place alongside Verstappen for 2027. Liam Lawson performed admirably as his stand‑in, but there was never any doubt that Hadjar would retain the seat. He has arguably been Verstappen’s most competitive teammate since Daniel Ricciardo’s departure.” Hadjar himself expressed enthusiasm about the extension: “I am extremely excited to continue with Oracle Red Bull Racing.
I joined the team eight months ago and immediately grasped the scale and ambition of this operation. There are so many talented people in the factory, and driving for such an iconic team alongside a four‑time world champion is a huge privilege.
From the moment I signed, I pledged to give everything to the team, and with the support of Laurent and everyone in Milton Keynes I have been able to justify the faith placed in me. I am constantly listening, learning and pushing myself further each day as we look ahead.” The top four teams in the sport – Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull – have now locked in their driver line‑ups for 2027 with no changes expected. Alpine, Williams and Cadillac have also confirmed their 2027 rosters, while Audi will retain its pairing of Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg.
This leaves Racing Bulls, Haas and Aston Martin as the only constructors still undecided about their driver line‑ups for next year, meaning the market could still see some movement. Aston Martin’s situation is particularly fluid because Fernando Alonso is weighing his future.
If the two‑time champion decides to retire, a coveted seat at the British team will become available. Alonso has hinted that a decision will not come soon, citing dissatisfaction with the current technical regulations. FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has even suggested accelerating the development of Aston Martin’s engine partner, Honda, to address the team’s concerns.
In the midfield, Britain’s Oliver Bearman is expected to remain at Haas, while his teammate Esteban Ocon is looking ahead to his next contract after a challenging start to the season. Haas may consider promoting Ferrari junior Rafael Camara, who impressed in Formula 2, for a 2027 debut. Red Bull’s junior program continues to produce talent; Nikola Tsolov leads the current F2 championship and the senior team is known for rewarding its young drivers with early F1 opportunities.
However, Red Bull faces a delicate decision regarding its current Racing Bulls drivers, Arvid Lindblad and Liam Lawson, both of whom have delivered strong performances this year. Dropping either driver would be difficult, especially given the team’s tradition of nurturing home‑grown talent. The upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend will feature a packed schedule, beginning with F2 practice sessions on Thursday morning, followed by the F2 qualifying and the team‑bosses’ press conference.
Friday will host the F2 sprint race and the final practice session for the F1 cars, leading into the F2 feature race and the F1 qualifying session. Saturday’s programme includes the second F2 feature race, the Grand Prix start, and post‑race analysis.
All sessions will be streamed live on Sky Sports Main Event, with the main race broadcast on Sky Sports F1. The event marks the continuation of the 2026 Formula 1 season, with the Azerbaijan round serving as the first of a three‑race triple‑header, kicking off at midday on Saturday.
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