Red Bull Racing has officially confirmed that Isack Hadjar will stay on as Max Verstappen's teammate for the 2027 Formula One campaign. The French driver, who joined the team at the beginning of the current season after a standout rookie year with Racing Bulls in 2025, missed the final three rounds of the 2026 championship because of a wrist injury sustained during a training session over the summer break. He is now declared fit enough to return to competition at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix this weekend, an event that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1.
The announcement comes on the heels of Red Bull's earlier news that four‑time world champion Max Verstappen has extended his contract with the team until at least the close of 2030. Team principal Laurent Mekies praised Hadjar, saying, "We are thrilled to keep Isack with us. Since he arrived at the start of the year he has been exemplary both on‑track and off‑track, especially given that this is only his second season in Formula 1. Extending his deal was therefore an easy decision." Mekies added that Hadjar threw himself into the operation from day one, spending countless hours in the Milton Keynes factory working alongside his engineers to fine‑tune the car.
"You could see in Melbourne that he handled the step up with remarkable composure and earned his place in the seat," he noted. The second seat at Red Bull is widely regarded as the toughest on the grid.
Former Red Bull drivers 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 being a revolving door. Hadjar, however, has shown he can compete closely with the Dutchman, even edging him out on a few occasions this season, which has insulated his position from the usual scrutiny. Despite his three‑race absence, Hadjar remains eighth in the Drivers' Championship and reclaimed a podium finish at Monaco after Red Bull and McLaren successfully appealed a penalty that had initially stripped Pierre Gasly of his result.
Mekies highlighted the difficulty of Hadjar's recovery period, saying, "The weeks after his injury have been tough, but this contract extension shows how much confidence we have in his talent. We are eager to see him back in the car and contributing to the team's goals." He also emphasized the unity within the organisation, noting that drivers, engineers and factory staff are all aligned and motivated to achieve the season's objectives. Sky Sports F1 analyst Craig Slater commented, "Hadjar was out for three rounds because he injured his wrist while hitting a heavy bag in his boxing training.
He has recovered and will be back for the Baku race, retaining his place beside Verstappen for 2027. Liam Lawson performed admirably in his absence, but no one was surprised to see Hadjar keep the seat – he has been Verstappen's most competitive teammate since Daniel Ricciardo left the team." Hadjar himself expressed enthusiasm about the extension: "I am really excited to continue with Oracle Red Bull Racing.
I joined eight months ago and instantly grasped the scale and ambition of this organisation. The talent here is extraordinary, and driving alongside a four‑time champion like Max is a privilege. From day one I have been dedicated 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 each day." During the post‑qualifying press conference in Baku, Hadjar said he had been completely relaxed about the contract talks and admitted he was not even aware of the length of the new deal. "I let my people handle the negotiations," he explained.
"I focus on the track, and that’s it – the rest is easy." When asked if the contract spanned multiple years, he replied, "I don’t really know, I don’t care. If you’re good, you stay, and that’s all that matters." He also gave an update on his wrist injury, describing it as a small fracture outside the wrist that required a lengthy, non‑surgical healing process. "It’s still a bit painful, but after six weeks it feels strong enough to handle the stresses of racing," he said. He added that his simulator work had gone well and that the virtual environment felt almost identical to the cockpit, giving him confidence that he would be ready for the race weekend.
He confessed that the rehabilitation period was dull, as he could do little with his left arm, but he remained optimistic. The injury occurred during a routine boxing workout, a discipline Hadjar incorporates into his fitness regime. Red Bull has not imposed any new restrictions on his training, although he acknowledged he will be more cautious in the future. "Next time I’ll think twice and maybe strap myself better," he said with a smile.
With Red Bull, Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren all having locked in their driver line‑ups for 2027, the remaining teams are still shaping their rosters. Alpine, Williams and Cadillac have already secured their drivers, while Audi will retain Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hülkenberg. The only seats still uncertain belong to Racing Bulls, Haas and Aston Martin. Aston Martin’s future is linked to Fernando Alonso, who is weighing his options and could potentially open a seat if he decides to retire.
Alonso has hinted that a decision will not come soon, citing dissatisfaction with the current regulations and the ongoing discussions about Honda’s engine supply to the team. In the midfield, Britain’s Oliver Bearman is expected to stay at Haas, but his teammate Esteban Ocon may be displaced as Haas is rumored to offer a debut to Ferrari junior Rafael Camara for 2027 after his impressive Formula 2 campaign. Red Bull’s junior program continues to produce talent, with Nikola Tsolov leading the F2 championship and likely to receive an F1 opportunity in the near future. However, the team faces a delicate choice, as both current Racing Bulls drivers Arvid Lindblad and Liam Lawson have performed strongly this season, making any decision to drop one of them a tough call.
The upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend schedule is packed with action: practice sessions on Friday, qualifying on Saturday and the race on Sunday, all streamed live on Sky Sports Main Event. The event marks the continuation of the 2026 Formula 1 season and promises further drama as Hadjar returns to the grid, aiming to cement his place as a genuine challenger to Verstappen and to help Red Bull maintain its dominance in the sport.