Red Bull has officially announced that Isack Hadjar will stay alongside Max Verstappen as his teammate for the 2027 Formula 1 campaign. The French driver, who was promoted to the senior squad at the beginning of the current season after a standout rookie year with Racing Bulls in 2025, missed the last three rounds because of a wrist injury sustained during a summer training session. He is now declared fit and will line up for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix this weekend, broadcast live on Sky Sports F1. The team had already confirmed in May that four‑time world champion Verstappen signed an extension that keeps him at Red Bull until at least the close of 2030.
Following that, team principal Laurent Mekies said, "We are thrilled to keep Isack with us. Since his arrival at the start of the year he has impressed both on‑track and off‑track, especially given that this is only his second full season in Formula 1.
Extending his contract was therefore a straightforward decision." Mekies added that Hadjar immersed himself in the operation from day one, spending countless hours in the Milton Keynes factory working hand‑in‑hand with his engineers to fine‑tune the car. "He is always hungry to learn and to push the car further," the principal noted. "The composure he displayed during his debut weekend in Melbourne was remarkable, and it quickly earned him the right to sit in the second Red Bull seat." The second seat at Red Bull is widely regarded as the toughest job on the grid. Former teammates such as Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda have all struggled to match Verstappen’s pace, and the role has often been described as a make‑or‑break test for any driver.
Hadjar, however, has consistently been closer to Verstappen than many of his predecessors, even out‑qualifying the Dutchman on a few occasions this year, which has helped to silence any lingering doubts about his suitability. Despite missing the final three races, 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 penalty for exceeding the speed limit in the pit lane.
Mekies praised the young driver’s resilience, stating, "The period after his injury was challenging, but this contract extension shows how much faith we have in his talent. We are eager to see him back in the car and contributing to the team’s goals." Sky Sports F1 analyst Craig Slater commented, "Hadjar was out for three rounds after hurting his wrist while hitting a heavy bag in his boxing training. He’s recovered, is back for Baku, and will be Verstappen’s teammate in 2027.
Liam Lawson filled in admirably, but nobody was surprised that Red Bull chose to keep Hadjar. He has been the most competitive teammate Verstappen has had since Daniel Ricciardo left the team." Hadjar himself expressed enthusiasm about the new deal: "I’m really excited to continue with Oracle Red Bull Racing.
I joined eight months ago and immediately grasped the scale and ambition of this organisation. There are so many talented people here, and driving alongside a four‑time champion like Max is a privilege. From day one I have committed myself to the team, and thanks to the support of Laurent and everyone in Milton Keynes, I’ve been able to justify the confidence they placed in me. Every day I aim to listen, learn and push myself further." When asked about the contract length during the post‑race press conference in Baku, Hadjar said he was completely relaxed about the negotiations and admitted he didn’t even know the exact term.
"I let my people handle the talks," he laughed. "I focus on the track, and if you perform well, you stay." He also gave an update on his wrist injury, describing it as a small fracture outside the joint that required no surgery but a lengthy natural healing process. "It’s still a bit painful, but after about six weeks it’s strong enough to handle the stresses of racing," Hadjar explained.
He added that his simulator work had gone well and that the virtual environment feels almost identical to the real cockpit, giving him confidence that he will be ready for the race weekend. The injury occurred during a routine boxing workout, a training method the driver uses to stay fit. Red Bull has not imposed any new restrictions on his regimen, though Hadjar said he will be more cautious in the future.
"Next time I’ll think twice, maybe strap my wrist better, but there are no bans – I’m not a child," he said. Looking beyond Red Bull, the top four teams – Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull – have all locked in their driver line‑ups for 2027. Alpine, Williams and Cadillac have also secured their 2027 drivers, while Audi will keep Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg together.
The remaining teams – Racing Bulls, Haas and Aston Martin – still have open seats. Fernando Alonso remains undecided about his future, and his eventual retirement could open a coveted spot at Aston Martin.
Meanwhile, Haas is expected to retain Oliver Bearman, but may replace Esteban Ocon with Ferrari junior Rafael Camara for 2027 after Camara’s impressive Formula 2 performances. Red Bull’s junior programme continues to produce talent, with Nikola Tsolov leading the current F2 championship. The team faces a difficult decision regarding its two Racing Bulls drivers, Arvid Lindblad and Liam Lawson, both of whom have delivered strong results this season.
Dropping either would be a tough call, but Red Bull has a history of promoting young drivers as soon as they are ready. 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. Fans are encouraged to use the Chrome browser for the best video player experience.
The race marks the continuation of the 2026 Formula 1 season, with Red Bull aiming to maintain its dominance while nurturing the next generation of talent, including the newly confirmed partnership of Verstappen and Hadjar through 2027.