Red Bull Racing has officially confirmed that Isack Hadjar will stay alongside four‑time world champion Max Verstappen as his teammate for the 2027 Formula One 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 final three rounds of the year due to a wrist injury sustained during a summer training session.
Now fully recovered, Hadjar returned to the grid for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix at Baku, a race that was broadcast live on Sky Sports F1. The announcement comes on the heels of Red Bull’s earlier confirmation that Verstappen has signed a fresh contract extending his stay with the team until at least the end of 2030. Team principal Laurent Mekies praised Hadjar’s progress, stating, "From the moment he joined us at the start of the year, Isack has been outstanding both on‑track and off‑track.
Considering this is only his second season in Formula 1, extending his contract was an easy decision for us." Mekies added that Hadjar immersed himself in the technical environment at the Milton Keynes factory, spending countless hours with his engineers to fine‑tune the car and constantly seeking ways to improve his performance. Mekies highlighted the young driver’s composure during his debut weekend in Melbourne, noting that Hadjar handled the step up to a top‑tier car with remarkable poise and quickly earned his place in the Red Bull cockpit. This sentiment was echoed by Sky Sports F1 commentator Craig Slater, who observed, "Hadjar has been out for the last three rounds because he injured his arm and wrist while hitting a heavy bag in boxing training.
He’s recovered, is back for the Baku weekend, and will remain Verstappen’s partner in 2027. In my view, he has been Verstappen’s most competitive teammate since Daniel Ricciardo left the team." Slater also praised Liam Lawson’s deputising performance during Hadjar’s absence but stressed that the team’s decision to retain Hadjar was never in doubt. Hadjar himself expressed enthusiasm about the extension, saying, "I’m thrilled to continue with Oracle Red Bull Racing. I joined the team eight months ago and instantly grasped the scale and ambition of the operation.
The talent here is extraordinary, and driving alongside a champion like Max is a privilege I take very seriously." He continued, "From day one I committed myself to the team, and with the support of Laurent and everyone in Milton Keynes, I’ve been able to justify the faith they placed in me. Every day I aim to listen, learn and push my limits further." When questioned at the Drivers' Press Conference in Baku about the contract talks, Hadjar admitted he was completely relaxed about the negotiations, even claiming he was unaware of the exact length of the new deal.
"I let my people handle the discussions," he said. "I focus on what I do on the track, and that’s it. It was a straightforward process for me." When pressed about whether the agreement spanned multiple years, he replied, "I don’t really know the details, and I don’t mind. If you perform well, you stay, and that’s all that matters." Regarding his wrist injury, Hadjar explained that he suffered a small fracture outside the wrist during a routine boxing workout, a training method he uses to stay fit.
"There was no surgery required, so it’s been a natural healing process," he noted. "It’s been painful and the rehab has taken time, but after about six weeks the wrist is strong enough to handle the stresses of racing again.
I’ve tested the car in the simulator and it felt identical to the real cockpit, so I’m confident I’m ready for the race weekend." He also mentioned that the injury limited his ability to train his left arm, making the recovery period somewhat monotonous. Hadjar clarified that Red Bull has not imposed any new restrictions on his training regimen, but he intends to be more cautious in the future. "Next time I’ll think twice before throwing a heavy bag," he laughed, adding that he might strap his wrist for added protection.
"I’m not a child; I just need to be smarter about it." The confirmation of Hadjar’s future with Red Bull means that the top four teams—Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull—have now locked in their driver line‑ups through 2027. Alpine, Williams and the newly re‑branded Cadillac team have also secured their drivers for the next season, while Audi plans to retain its pairing of Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hülkenberg.
The only remaining teams without confirmed line‑ups are Racing Bulls, Haas and Aston Martin. Aston Martin’s situation is complicated by Fernando Alonso’s indecision about his future; if the two‑time champion decides to retire, a seat will open up.
Alonso has hinted that a decision won’t come soon, expressing dissatisfaction with the current regulations and sparking comments from FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem about accelerating the development of Aston Martin’s new Honda power unit. At Haas, British youngster Oliver Bearman is expected to stay, but his teammate Esteban Ocon may be displaced as the team is rumored to be considering Ferrari junior Rafael Camara for a 2027 debut after a strong Formula 2 campaign. Meanwhile, Red Bull’s junior program continues to produce talent, with Nikola Tsolov leading the F2 championship and likely on Red Bull’s radar for an F1 seat.
The team faces a difficult decision regarding its current Racing Bulls drivers, Arvid Lindblad and Liam Lawson, both of whom have delivered solid performances this year. The upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend will feature a packed schedule, including practice sessions, qualifying, and the race itself, all streamed live on Sky Sports Main Event. The event marks the continuation of the 2026 Formula 1 season, with the Baku race serving as the centerpiece of a triple‑header weekend that also includes F2 practice, qualifying and sprint races. Fans can watch the action via Sky Sports F1 or stream through NOW, with flexible subscription options available.