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 One campaign. The French youngster, who joined the squad at the beginning of the current season after a standout debut with Racing Bulls in 2025, missed the final three rounds because of a wrist injury sustained during a summer‑break 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 announcement comes on the heels of Red Bull's earlier statement that Verstappen has signed a fresh contract extending his stay at the team until at least the end of 2030. Team principal Laurent Mekies praised Hadjar, saying, "We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Isack. Since he arrived at the start of the year he has been exemplary both on‑track and off‑track, especially given that this is only his second season in Formula One.
Extending his contract was therefore a straightforward decision." Mekies added that Hadjar immersed himself in the technical environment from day one, spending countless hours in the Milton Keynes factory working side‑by‑side with his engineers to develop the car. "His eagerness to learn and improve was evident from his debut weekend in Melbourne, where he displayed remarkable composure for a rookie and earned his place in the seat," the team principal noted. The second Red Bull seat is widely regarded as the most demanding on the grid.
Former occupants such as Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda have all found it difficult to match Verstappen's pace. Hadjar, however, has consistently been closer to the Dutch driver than many of his predecessors and has even out‑performed him on a handful of occasions this season, which has helped to shield his position from criticism.
Despite missing the last three Grand Prix, Hadjar remains eighth in the Drivers' Championship and reclaimed a podium finish at Monaco after Red Bull and McLaren successfully appealed a penalty that had originally stripped Pierre Gasly of his result. Mekies described the period following Hadjar's injury as "challenging for Isack, but the contract extension underscores our belief in his talent and our excitement to see him back on the track." Sky Sports F1 analyst Craig Slater explained, "Hadjar was sidelined because he injured his wrist while hitting a heavy bag during his boxing training. He has recovered and will race this weekend, confirming his partnership with Verstappen for 2027. In his absence, Liam Lawson performed admirably, but no one was surprised that Red Bull chose to keep Hadjar, who has been the most competitive teammate Verstappen has had since Daniel Ricciardo left the team." Hadjar himself expressed enthusiasm about staying with Oracle Red Bull Racing, stating, "Joining the team eight months ago, I instantly grasped the scale and ambition of the operation.
There are countless talented people at the factory, and it is a privilege to drive for such an extraordinary outfit alongside a four‑time champion like Max. 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 each day." When asked about the contract negotiations during the post‑race press conference in Baku, Hadjar said he was completely relaxed about the discussions and admitted he was not even aware of the exact length of the new deal. "I let my management handle the talks.
I focus on the track, and that's it. It was very easy," he explained. When pressed about whether the agreement spanned multiple years, he shrugged, "I don't really know, and I don't mind. If you're good, you stay." Hadjar also detailed his recovery from the wrist injury, describing it as a small fracture outside the joint that required no surgery but a lengthy natural healing process.
"It will still be painful for a while, but after six weeks it feels strong enough to handle the forces involved. The simulator tests went well, and the environment is almost identical to the cockpit, so I feel confident that I can perform once the adrenaline kicks in on track. The training sessions have been dull because I haven't been able to use my left arm much." The injury occurred during a routine boxing workout, a part of his fitness regimen. Red Bull has not imposed any new restrictions on his training, although Hadjar admitted he will be more cautious in the future, saying, "Next time I'll be more careful, maybe strap my wrist.
There are no bans – I'm not a child, I just need to think twice before throwing a punch." Across the sport, 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 contracts for the upcoming season, while Audi will retain Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg. The remaining teams—Racing Bulls, Haas and Aston Martin—still have open seats, and speculation is rife.
Fernando Alonso remains a wildcard; his decision to stay or retire will dictate whether Aston Martin has a vacancy. Meanwhile, Haas is expected to keep Oliver Bearman, but teammate Esteban Ocon may be displaced as the team eyes a debut for Ferrari junior Rafael Camara in 2027 after his impressive Formula 2 performances. Red Bull's junior program continues to produce talent, with Nikola Tsolov leading the F2 championship and the team keen to promote youngsters as soon as possible. However, the decision is delicate because both Arvid Lindblad and Liam Lawson have delivered strong results this year, making any replacement a tough call.
The upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend schedule includes multiple practice sessions, qualifying, and the main race, all of which will be streamed live on Sky Sports Main Event. Fans can also follow the associated F2 events that run alongside the Formula 1 program, offering a full weekend of high‑speed action.