Red Bull Racing has officially announced that Isack Hadjar will stay alongside four‑time world champion Max Verstappen for the 2027 Formula One campaign. The French youngster, who joined the team at the start of the current season after a standout debut with Racing Bulls in 2025, missed the final three rounds of the year 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 Verstappen extended his contract with Red Bull until at least the close of 2030.
Team principal Laurent Mekies praised Hadjar, saying, "We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Isack. Since his arrival, he has impressed both on‑track and off‑track, especially given that this is only his second year in Formula One. Extending his contract was therefore a straightforward decision." Mekies added that Hadjar threw himself into the team culture from day one, spending countless hours in the Milton Keynes factory working with his engineers to refine the car.
"You could see from his debut weekend 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 has long been regarded as the most demanding on the grid. Former teammates such as Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda all struggled to match Verstappen's pace, and the role has often been described as a "make‑or‑break" position.
Hadjar, however, has shown he can compete closely with the Dutch driver, even out‑performing him on a few occasions this season. As a result, his place has not been subject to the same level of scrutiny that other drivers have faced. Despite missing the last three events, Hadjar remains eighth in the Drivers' Championship and reclaimed a podium finish at Monaco after Red Bull and McLaren successfully appealed the reversal of Pierre Gasly's speeding penalties.
Mekies highlighted the difficulty of Hadjar's recovery period, stating, "The months since his injury have been challenging, but this contract extension demonstrates the confidence we have in his abilities. We look forward to seeing him back in the car." He also emphasized the unity within the team, adding that engineers, drivers and factory staff are all aligned toward common goals for the remainder of the season. Sky Sports F1 analyst Craig Slater explained the nature of Hadjar's injury: "He injured his arm and wrist by hitting a heavy bag during his boxing training.
He has now recovered and will race this weekend, securing his role as Verstappen's teammate for 2027. In his absence, Liam Lawson performed admirably, but no one was surprised that Red Bull chose to retain Hadjar, who has been Verstappen's most competitive teammate since Daniel Ricciardo's departure." Hadjar himself expressed enthusiasm about staying with Oracle Red Bull Racing, saying, "Joining the team eight months ago, I instantly grasped the scale and ambition of the operation. The talent pool here is extraordinary, and driving alongside a four‑time champion like Max is a privilege. From day one I have dedicated myself to the project, and thanks to the support of Laurent and everyone at the factory, I have been able to justify the faith placed in me.
Every day I strive to listen, learn and push my limits further." During the drivers' press conference in Baku, Hadjar admitted he was completely relaxed about the contract talks, even claiming he was unaware of the exact length of the new deal. "I let my management handle the negotiations.
I focus on my performance on the track, and that was all," he said, adding with a smile, "If you're good, you stay – that's it." When asked whether the agreement covered multiple years, he responded, "I don't really know, and I don't mind. The important thing is to keep performing." He also provided details on his wrist injury, describing it as a small fracture outside the joint that required no surgery but a lengthy natural healing process. "It will be painful for a while, but after six weeks the bone is strong enough to handle the stresses of racing.
I tested the simulator and it felt very similar to the cockpit, so I am confident that with the adrenaline of an actual race I will be fine. The training sessions have been dull because I couldn't use my left arm much, but I am eager to get back to full fitness." Hadjar clarified that the injury occurred during a routine boxing workout, and Red Bull has not imposed any new restrictions on his training regimen. He simply intends to be more cautious in the future, saying, "Next time I will think twice and maybe strap the wrist, but there are no formal limits – I'm not a child, I just need to be smarter about it." The broader driver market for 2027 is largely settled among the sport's top four teams—Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull—each having confirmed their line‑ups. Alpine, Williams and Cadillac have also locked in their drivers, while Audi plans to retain Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hülkenberg.
The remaining slots are open at Racing Bulls, Haas and Aston Martin, where potential changes could still occur. Aston Martin's seat could become available if Fernando Alonso decides to retire, a decision that remains uncertain as he has expressed dissatisfaction with the current regulations. Meanwhile, Haas is expected to keep Oliver Bearman, but his teammate Esteban Ocon may lose his drive if the team promotes Ferrari junior Rafael Camara, who impressed in Formula 2. Red Bull's junior program continues to nurture talent, with Nikola Tsolov leading the F2 championship and likely being eyed for a future F1 opportunity.
However, Red Bull faces a delicate choice because both current Racing Bulls drivers, Arvid Lindblad and Liam Lawson, are delivering strong performances this season, making any decision to drop one of them a difficult one. The upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend will feature a packed schedule, including multiple F2 sessions and the main Formula 1 race, all broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event.
Fans can stream the action via NOW, with the flexibility to cancel at any time. The race marks the continuation of the 2026 season and offers a final chance to see Hadjar back in the Red Bull cockpit before the team embarks on its 2027 campaign.