Red Bull has officially announced that Isack Hadjar will stay beside Max Verstappen as his teammate for the 2027 Formula 1 campaign. The French driver joined the Oracle Red Bull Racing stable at the beginning of the current season after a standout rookie year with Racing Bulls in 2025. Although a wrist injury forced him to miss the final three rounds of the year, Hadjar has recovered sufficiently to line up for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix this weekend, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1. The team’s decision comes on the heels of a separate contract extension disclosed last month, confirming that four‑time world champion Max Verstappen has signed on to remain with Red Bull until at least the close of 2030.
Team principal Laurent Mekies praised Hadjar’s progress, stating, “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 season in Formula 1. Extending his deal was therefore a straightforward choice.” Mekies added that Hadjar immersed himself in the team culture from day one, spending countless hours in the Milton Keynes factory working shoulder‑to‑shoulder with his engineers to refine the car’s performance. “You could see from his debut weekend in Melbourne that he handled the step up with remarkable composure and quickly earned his place in this seat,” the principal explained.
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.
Yet Hadjar has consistently been closer to the Dutch driver than many of his predecessors, even out‑qualifying or out‑performing his teammate on several occasions this season. Consequently, his position has not been subject to the same level of scrutiny. Despite the three‑race absence caused by his wrist injury – reportedly sustained while striking a heavy bag during a boxing‑style training session – 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 speeding penalties. Mekies highlighted the resilience required during Hadjar’s recovery, noting, “The period since his injury has been difficult for Isack, but this extension demonstrates how much faith we have in his talent.
We look forward to seeing him back on the track.” Sky Sports F1 analyst Craig Slater echoed the sentiment, saying, “Hadjar missed the last three rounds because of a wrist injury sustained during training, but he’s fully recovered and will be Max’s partner in 2027. Liam Lawson filled in admirably, yet no one was surprised that Red Bull kept Hadjar. He’s arguably Verstappen’s most competitive teammate since Daniel Ricciardo left.” Hadjar himself expressed enthusiasm about the new deal: “I’m extremely excited to continue with Oracle Red Bull Racing.
I joined the team eight months ago and instantly grasped the scale and ambition of the organization. The factory is filled with incredibly talented people, and driving alongside a four‑time champion like Max is a privilege. From the moment I signed, I committed myself to the team, and with the support of Laurent and everyone in Milton Keynes, I’ve been able to justify the confidence placed in me.
I’m constantly listening, learning and pushing myself further each day.” The confirmation of Hadjar’s future, together with Verstappen’s long‑term contract, means that the top four teams—Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull—have now locked in their driver line‑ups for 2027 with no changes anticipated. Alpine, Williams and Cadillac have also secured their drivers for the upcoming season, while Audi plans to retain the pairing of Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg.
The remaining teams—Racing Bulls, Haas and Aston Martin—are still undecided about their 2027 line‑ups, leaving room for potential movement. Fernando Alonso remains a wildcard; his decision to stay or retire will heavily influence Aston Martin’s seat availability.
Alonso has hinted that a decision will not come soon, citing dissatisfaction with the current regulations, a stance that prompted FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem to comment on accelerating the development of Aston Martin’s engine supplier, Honda. In the meantime, Britain’s Oliver Bearman is expected to remain at Haas, while his teammate Esteban Ocon could be displaced if Haas opts to promote Ferrari junior Rafael Camara, who impressed during his Formula 2 campaign. Red Bull’s junior program also continues to produce talent, with Nikola Tsolov leading the current F2 championship. Historically, Red Bull has a track record of promoting its junior drivers to F1 seats at the earliest opportunity.
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 would be a tough call given their contributions.
The upcoming race weekend schedule is as follows: Thursday, 24 September – 6:55 am: F2 practice; 9:00 am: Azerbaijan GP practice 1 (starts 9:30 am); 10:55 am: F2 qualifying; 12:00 pm: Team bosses’ press conference; 12:30 pm: Azerbaijan GP practice 2 (starts 1:00 pm); 2:15 pm: The F1 Show. Friday, 25 September – 5:10 am: F2 sprint; 9:15 am: Azerbaijan GP practice 3 (starts 9:30 am); 11:10 am: F2 feature race 1; 12:30 pm: Azerbaijan GP qualifying build‑up; 1:00 pm: Azerbaijan GP qualifying; 3:00 pm: Ted’s qualifying notebook. Saturday, 26 September – 7:55 am: F2 feature race 2; 10:30 am: Grand Prix; Sunday – Azerbaijan GP build‑up; 12:00 pm: The Azerbaijan Grand Prix; 2:00 pm: Chequered flag reaction; 3:00 pm: Ted’s notebook. All sessions will also be streamed live on Sky Sports Main Event.
The 2026 Formula 1 season continues to be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1 this week, with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix kicking off a triple‑header of races. Viewers can stream Sky Sports via NOW with no contract and the option to cancel at any time.