Red Bull Racing has officially confirmed that Isack Hadjar will stay alongside four‑time world champion Max Verstappen as the team's second driver for the 2027 Formula 1 season. The Frenchman, who joined the squad at the beginning of the current campaign 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‑break boxing session.
He is now fully cleared to race and will line up for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix this weekend, broadcast live on Sky Sports F1. The announcement comes just weeks after Red Bull revealed 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, saying, "We are thrilled to continue our journey with Isack. Since he arrived at the start of the year he has been outstanding both on and off the 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 technical side of the operation from day one, spending countless hours in the Milton Keynes factory working closely 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 this seat," Mekies noted. The second seat at Red Bull is widely regarded as the toughest 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 a reputation for being a make‑or‑break opportunity. Hadjar, however, has shown he can rise to the challenge.
He has already out‑performed his teammate on several occasions this season, and his performances have not been called into question despite his recent injury lay‑off. Even after missing the last three races, 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 emphasized that the period following Hadjar's injury was difficult, but the new contract underscores the team's belief in his talent.
"We still have a lot we want to achieve this season, but it feels great to know that the drivers, engineers and everyone back at the factory are all moving in the same direction, committed and together," he said. Sky Sports F1 analyst Craig Slater explained the circumstances of the injury, noting that Hadjar damaged his wrist while hitting a heavy bag during a boxing workout, a routine part of his physical training regime.
"He has recovered and will be back on the grid this weekend, and there was no surprise that Red Bull kept him for 2027. In my view he has been Verstappen's most competitive teammate since Daniel Ricciardo left the team," Slater commented. Hadjar himself expressed excitement about the extension.
"I am really thrilled 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 at the factory, and driving for a team of this calibre alongside a four‑time champion is a privilege," he said. He added that from the moment he signed his first contract he committed himself fully to the project, and with the support of Laurent Mekies and the entire Milton Keynes staff he has been able to justify the faith placed in him.
"Every day I try to listen, learn and push myself further," Hadjar said. During the drivers' press conference in Baku, Hadjar revealed that he had been completely relaxed about the contract talks and admitted he hadn't even known the length of the new deal. "I let my people do the talking for me. I focus on the track, and that's it.
It was very easy," he explained when asked whether the agreement was a multi‑year one. "I actually don't know.
I don't care. If you're good, you stay, and that's it." He also spoke candidly about the nature of his wrist injury. "I have a small fracture just outside the wrist. It didn't require surgery, so the healing process has been natural but lengthy.
It will be painful for a while, but after about six weeks the bone is strong enough to handle the stresses of driving," he said. Hadjar confirmed that he had completed a simulator test, which felt similar to the real cockpit, and that he felt ready to return to competition. "Training sessions have been boring because I couldn't use my left arm, but the sim work helped keep me sharp," he added. The injury occurred during a routine boxing workout, and while Red Bull has not imposed any new restrictions on his training, Hadjar said he will be more cautious in the future.
"Next time I'll be more careful, maybe strap the wrist. There are no restrictions, I'm not a child, I just need to think twice before I throw a punch," he joked. Red Bull's driver line‑up for 2027 is now fully confirmed, joining Verstappen and Hadjar. The other top teams—Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren—have also locked in their line‑ups for the next season.
Alpine, Williams and Cadillac have already secured their drivers through 2027, while Audi will retain Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hülkenberg. The remaining teams—Racing Bulls, Haas and Aston Martin—still have open seats. Aston Martin could see a vacancy if Fernando Alonso decides to retire, a decision he has hinted may not come soon due to dissatisfaction with current regulations.
Meanwhile, Haas is expected to keep Oliver Bearman but may replace Esteban Ocon with Ferrari junior Rafael Câmara, who impressed during his Formula 2 campaign. Red Bull's junior programme continues to produce talent, with Nikola Tsolov leading the current F2 championship. The team faces a delicate decision regarding its two Racing Bulls drivers, Arvid Lindblad and Liam Lawson, both of whom have performed admirably this year. Dropping either would be a tough call, given Red Bull's history of promoting promising youngsters as quickly as possible.
The weekend schedule for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix is packed with action across both categories. On Thursday, September 24, F2 practice begins at 6:55 am, followed by qualifying and the team bosses' press conference. Friday, September 25, features the F2 sprint, the third F1 practice session, and the F2 feature race, before the main qualifying session for the Grand Prix at 1 pm. Saturday, September 26, hosts the second F2 feature race, the Grand Prix itself at midday, and post‑race analysis.
All sessions are also streamed live on Sky Sports Main Event. Fans can watch the 2026 Formula 1 season continue live on Sky Sports F1, with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix kicking off a triple‑header of races.
The event is available to stream via NOW, with no long‑term contract required, allowing viewers to cancel at any time.