Red Bull Racing has officially announced that Isack Hadjar will stay on as Max Verstappen's teammate for the 2027 Formula 1 campaign. The French driver, who joined the team at the start of the current season after a standout debut with Racing Bulls in 2025, missed the final 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 confirmation comes on the heels of a separate deal revealed last month in which four‑time world champion Max Verstappen extended his contract with Red Bull until at least the end of 2030.
Team principal Laurent Mekies praised Hadjar, saying, "We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Isack. Since his arrival at the beginning 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 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 collaborating with his engineers to develop the car. "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," he noted.
The second Red Bull seat has long been regarded as the toughest on the grid, with former occupants such as Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda all struggling to match Verstappen's pace. Hadjar, however, has been the most competitive Red Bull teammate in recent years, even out‑performing the Dutchman on several occasions this season, which has insulated his position from the usual scrutiny. Despite his injury‑related absence, Hadjar remains eighth in the Drivers' Championship and 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 that the period following the injury was challenging for Hadjar, but the new contract demonstrates the team's confidence in his abilities and their eagerness to see him back on the track.
Sky Sports F1 analyst Craig Slater explained, "Hadjar missed the last three rounds after hurting his arm and wrist while hitting a heavy bag in his boxing‑based fitness routine. He has recovered, will race in Baku, and will stay alongside Verstappen in 2027. Liam Lawson performed admirably as his stand‑in, but no one was surprised by the decision – Hadjar has been Verstappen's strongest 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 immediately grasped the scale and ambition of the organisation.
There are so many talented people at the factory, and driving for such an incredible team alongside a four‑time world champion 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 have been able to justify the faith they placed in me. I am constantly listening, learning and pushing myself further every day." When questioned at the Drivers' Press Conference in Baku, Hadjar said he had been completely relaxed about the renewal talks and admitted he was not even aware of the contract length. "I let my people do the talking for me.
I focus on the track, and that’s it. It was very easy," he said. When asked whether the deal covered multiple years, he replied, "I don’t really know. I don’t care – if you’re good, you stay." He also gave more detail on his wrist injury, describing it as a small fracture outside the joint that required no surgery and was healing naturally.
"It’s a long process and still painful, but after about six weeks it’s strong enough to handle the stresses of racing. The simulator test went well – it feels almost identical to the cockpit, so with the adrenaline on track I think I’ll be fine. The training sessions have been dull because I couldn’t use my left arm much." The injury occurred during a routine boxing workout, a discipline Hadjar incorporates into his fitness regime. Red Bull has not imposed new restrictions on his training, though he acknowledged he will be more cautious in the future: "Next time I’ll be more careful, maybe strap myself up – I’m not a child, I just need to think twice before I throw a punch." With the top four teams – Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull – having locked in their driver line‑ups through 2027, the focus now shifts to the remaining outfits.
Alpine, Williams and Cadillac have already secured their 2027 drivers, while Audi will retain Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hülkenberg. The only teams still undecided are Racing Bulls, Haas and Aston Martin. Aston Martin’s seat could open if Fernando Alonso decides to retire, a decision that remains uncertain as he has voiced dissatisfaction with the current regulations.
Meanwhile, Haas is expected to keep Oliver Bearman but may replace Esteban Ocon with Ferrari junior Rafael Camara, who impressed in Formula 2. Red Bull’s junior program continues to produce talent, with Nikola Tsolov leading the F2 championship and the team traditionally promoting its juniors to F1 as soon as possible.
Red Bull, however, faces a delicate choice: both current Racing Bulls drivers, Arvid Lindblad and Liam Lawson, are performing strongly, making it difficult to drop either for a newcomer. The upcoming race weekend schedule includes multiple support events: F2 practice, qualifying and races, as well as the main Formula 1 sessions. All action will be streamed live on Sky Sports Main Event, with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix slated for Saturday midday. Fans are encouraged to use Chrome for the best video experience.
Overall, the extension of Hadjar’s contract underscores Red Bull’s confidence in his development trajectory and signals continuity for the team as it aims to dominate the sport well into the next decade.